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Not All Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) Are Dangerous: 5 Lesser Known Facts

Contrary to popular belief, not all VSDs are dangerous and require a surgical intervention...

Not all VSD patients experience any unusual symptoms, some of them live normally like a healthy individual. This is typically noticed in the case of patients with a hole measuring less than 2 mm. Patients with a hole measuring greater than 2 mm may experience certain symptoms, including breathlessness, irregular heartbeat, and excessive sweating.

Even if asymptomatic patients are diagnosed with VSD, they may not need treatment at all. Treatment through medications, catheterization, or VSD closure surgery is only required in the case of patients with a certain set of symptoms. Asymptomatic…

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Articles of Interest

Collin’s VSD

It’s a hole in the septum (the central wall) of his heart. There are many people and children with VSD. It is a common uncommon defect. The location of Collin’s hole is the more sensitive issue, however.

Cardiology Case: A Hole in One

Here is a tricky case. Try to guess the diagnosis of this previously healthy 5-year-old male who starts to complain of difficulty breathing over the past 2 weeks.

Learning I Had Congenital Heart Disease

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The Heart & Down Syndrome

Approximately one-half of individuals with DS have congenital heart disease. That is a scary statistic! But, modern medicine steps up to the plate here, and with a 99% success rate for most heart surgeries, you can almost count on a home run!

Resources

Don't Forget the Bubbles

Definition: interventricular septal communication (IVS) defined by its location. The IVS can be divided into a muscular and membranous portion, hence perimembranous VSD (80%) or muscular VSD (inlet/trabecular/outlet = infundibular region). It is the most common type of CHD.

CDC

Depending on the size of the hole, symptoms, and general health of the child, the doctor might recommend either cardiac catheterization or open-heart surgery to close the hole and restore normal blood flow.

Patient

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the persistence of one or more holes in the septum that separates the left and right ventricles of the heart. The ventricles are a single chamber at about four weeks of gestation but by eight weeks it has been divided into two. Failure of development of any part of the septum results in a defect. It may vary considerably in terms of size and haemodynamic consequences. In adults a VSD may be acquired as a complication of myocardial infarction or trauma.

Structural Heart

Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect. Defects that involve the wall or vessels of the heart include atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).