What is a characteristic auscultation finding in patients with an atrial septal defect?

A fixed split S2 is a characteristic auscultation finding in patients with an atrial septal defect (ASD). This occurs because the presence of the defect allows for increased blood flow from the left atrium to the right atrium and subsequently into the right ventricle and pulmonary circulation. As a result, the enhanced flow causes delayed closure of the pulmonic valve during systole.

In patients with ASD, the splitting of the second heart sound (S2) does not vary with respiration, hence it is termed "fixed." During normal respiration, the splitting of S2 usually varies, becoming wider on inspiration and narrowing during expiration. However, in the case of ASD, the increased right heart volume overload results in a consistent separation of the aortic and pulmonic components of S2, regardless of the respiratory cycle.

This auscultation finding is critical for clinicians as it suggests the presence of volume overload to the right side of the heart, which is a typical consequence of ASD. Recognizing the fixed split S2 can lead to further investigation through imaging and ultimately proper diagnosis and management of the condition.