Question:

Is an aneurysmal interatrial septum similar to other aneurysms in the body?

The interatrial septum is aneurysmal without obvious shunting by color Doppler across the system. What does this mean? Do I have an aneurysm that needs to be monitored? It didn’t give any more information than that.

Submitted by Julie from Nebraska on 06/04/2015

Answer:
by Joseph Navarijo, MD

The interatrial septum is the thin wall that separates the upper atrial cavities of heart. When it appears elongated and “floppy” on cardiac ultrasound, we call it “aneurysmal”. This is a condition that some people are born with. It alone portends no prognostic risk. It is highly associated with patent foramen ovale which is a small tunnel like communication through the septal wall.