Ventricular septal defect Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
A ventricular septal defect (or VSD) is the most common congenital heart defect and is a defect in the ventricular septum (the wall dividing the left and right ventricles of the heart).The ventricular septum consists of a muscular (inferior) and membranous portion (superior). The membranous portion (which is close to the atrioventricular node) is most commonly affected.
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2 Pathophysiology 3 Treatment 4 Epidemiology |
Diagnosis
VSDs can be detected by cardiac auscultation; they typically cause systolic murmurs. Confirmation of findings from cardiac auscultation can be obtained with cardiac ultrasound (less invasive) and cardiac catheterization (more invasive).
Pathophysiology
Large VSDs result in a significant left-to-right shunt and increase load on the right ventricle. If untreated the right ventricle hypertrophies, which ultimately leads to right heart failure and death.
Treatment
Treatment is either surgical (open or percutaneous endovascular) or conservative. Smaller congenital VSDs often close on their own (as the heart grows) and are thus treated conservatively. Open surgical procedures require a heart-lung machine and are done with a median sternotomy. Percutaneous endovascular procedures are less invasive and can be done on a beating heart, but are only suitable for certain patients. Repair of VSDs are complicated by the fact that the conducting system of the heart is in the immediate vicinity.