Definition:
The heart's lower chambers (ventricles) are separated by a muscular wall (septum). A ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a hole in the septum that divides the ventricles. It is a congenital heart disease, and leads to blood moving from the left ventricle into the right ventricle. Since the left ventricle supplies the body with oxygenated blood, a VSD leads to less oxygenated blood in the body. Also, the right ventricle will become overloaded with blood and will end up recycling oxygenated blood into the lungs. Other causes of VSD include the measles and Down's syndrome.
Symptoms:
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
- Heavy breathing (if hole is big)
- Sweating
- Lack of energy
- Incomplete growth of child due to less oxygen
- Increased frequency of infections (colds, pneumonia, endocarditis)
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Congestive heart failure
Diagnosis:
- Stethoscope - abnormal murmur (loud, continuous, "gushing" blood across hole) in the heart
- Chest X-Ray - visualization of hole
- Electrocardiogram - visualization of hole and enlarged left ventricle
- Echocardiography - visualization of hole (most important)
Treatment:
- If hole is small, child growth should shrink and/or close off the hole
- Digitalis (digoxin), diuretics - symptom management
- Open heart VSD repair - to close off hole using a patch using the pericardium or sewing the hole closed using the remaining septum
