Resting hyperventilation in adults with atrial septal defect.

Pulmonary functions may be considerably influenced by changes in pulmonary haemodynamics in congenital heart disease. In analysing this problem we have found resting hyperventilation to be a common finding in these patients. There are few published studies on this relation and those that exist do not agree. In the present study the resting hyperventilation has been related to the pulmonary circulatory changes in a group of adults with atrial septal defect with particular regard being paid to the question whether there exists any correlation between the resting ventilation and pulmonary hypertension or the magnitude of the left-to-right shunt.