CHDFNigeria
Ventricular Septal Defect is the most common type of congenital heart disease, accounting for about 20% of all defect. It can occur alone or as a part of other complex malformation. VSD occurs when there is hole between the ventricles of the heart, 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, trans catheter 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 include
- Failure to thrive,
- Repeated chest infection,
- Fast breathing,
- Poor growth
- Cardiac Murmur
Diagnosis / investigations
Chest x-ray
Echocardiography
ECG
Cardiac catheterization
Management of VSD is similar to ASD.
- Medical treatment with medications that are typically anti failures
- Corrective treatment procedure includes Trans catheter closure in cardiac catheter lab and OHS. Generally, there is good life expectancy in the general population
- Acute or chronic heart block
- Requires follow up with cardiologist even when they become adults
