OBJECTIVES: Atrial and ventricular septal defects are the most common congenital heart defects and the closing procedures share important similarities. Generally, the postoperative outcome is considered benign, but there is growing concern regarding late ventilatory function. Therefore, the aim of this review was to describe the ventilatory function in patients with open as well as percutaneously or surgically closed atrial and ventricular septal defects.

METHODS: We performed a search protocol based on the "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses" (PRISMA) guidelines. A data collection form was specifically developed and data were extracted from the included studies by a primary reviewer and cross-checked by the secondary reviewer.

RESULTS: We found an increasing evidence of late impairment in ventilatory efficiency, and despite that ventilatory function is commonly normal at rest, abnormalities were disclosed during exercise. There are indices that surgical closure plays an important role.

DISCUSSION: Atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect patients have persisting, long-term impairment in ventilatory efficiency during exercise. Although the pathogenesis behind this finding may be multifactorial, there are indices that the surgical procedure may play an important role. Nevertheless, the literature is this field is sparse, and additional studies are needed.