Ventricular Septal Defect is the most common type of hole in the heart (congenital heart disease) that is present from birth (Congenital)
It accounts for about 20% of all congenital heart defect, VSD can occur alone or as a part of other complex malformation. VSD occurs when there is hole between the wall that separates the lower part of the heart (ventricles) that is there is a communication between the left and right ventricle. With VSD, there is left to right shunt which causes high pulmonary blood flow and consequently right Ventricular overload which may result in heart failure.
If the VSD is small, it can close spontaneously but if it is moderate or large-sized, it requires intervention, transcatheter closure or Open heart surgery.
TYPES
There are 4 types of VSD, the common one being Peri-membranous VSD
- Muscular VSD
- Juxta arterial VSD
- Inlet VSD
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- Failure to thrive,
- Repeated chest infection
- Fast breathing
- Poor growth
- Murmur
DIAGNOSIS
- Pan systolic murmur
- Chest x-ray
- Echocardiography
- Cardiac catheterization
TREATMENTS
- Transcatheter closure
- Open heart surgery.
PROGNOSIS.
Good life expectancy in the general population, patient may have acute or chronic heart block