Medindia
Unlock the benefits of registration Register
Medindia » Disease & Condition

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

Medically Reviewed by The Medindia Medical Review Team on Oct 20, 2015


What is Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)?

The normal heart has four chambers - the two upper chambers are called atria and the two lower compartments are called ventricles. The left and right atria are separated by the interatrial septum while the ventricles are separated by a wall called the interventricular or ventricular septum. The ventricular septum usually bulges into the right ventricle due to higher pressure in the left ventricle. It is made up of two parts, a larger muscular part, and a small upper membranous part.


Ventricular septal defect or VSD is a common developmental problem where there is a small opening in the ventricular septum. It may occur alone or may accompany other cardiac developmental malformations. In a heart with a VSD, there is an open communication between the left and right ventricles. There may be just a single defect or several defects in the septum. Symptoms usually depend on the size of the defect, which may be small, medium or large in size. Though large VSDs are usually detected in childhood, smaller defects may not produce any symptoms and may be detected only once the child becomes an adult.

What are the Causes of Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)?

A VSD occurs due to a problem during the development of the fetus within the uterus. Genetic factors are often considered as responsible for the faulty development. In addition, maternal factors could also influence the development of a congenital heart disease. These include illnesses like diabetes or obesity in the mother, or habits like smoking or excessive alcohol intake during pregnancy.

Some cases of congenital VSD may be detected only in adulthood. In addition, VSD may develop for the first time in adulthood due to an injury affecting the heart, or a heart attack that damages the muscle of the interventricular septum.

What are the Symptoms of Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)?

The age at which symptoms of a VSD appear depends on the severity of the condition. A large VSD is usually diagnosed a few weeks after birth or in childhood since it causes symptoms early. Symptoms of a small-to-medium sized VSD may appear later in life, sometimes even in adulthood.

Symptoms of VSD in a baby include:

What are the Complications Associated with a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)?

Complications of a VSD include the following:


How do you Diagnose Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)?

Diagnosis may be made at birth through a routine physical examination, or when the baby develops symptoms. The doctor may hear an abnormal sound with the stethoscope which indicates the presence of a heart problem.

An echocardiography commonly helps to diagnose a VSD and also to detect any associated heart abnormality if present. Other tests that may also be used include ECG and chest X-ray. Cardiac catheterisation, where a catheter is passed into the heart, may be required to get an exact estimation of the severity of the condition.

How do you Treat Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)?

A small VSD may close on its own by the time the child is around 2 years old and the child may only need regular monitoring.


Treatment of VSD includes the following:

How do you Prevent Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)?

Since ventricular septal defect may have a genetic basis, genetic counseling may help to prevent VSD in some babies. Also, treatment of illnesses affecting the mother like diabetes and hypertension, and advising the mother to avoid smoking or alcohol intake during pregnancy may help to prevent VSD to some extent.

References:

  1. Facts about Ventricular Septal Defect - (http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/heartdefects/ventricularseptaldefect.html)
  2. Spicer DE, Hsu HH, Co-Vu J, Anderson RH, Fricker FJ. Ventricular septal defect
  3. Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases (2014) 9:144 DOI 10.1186/s13023-014
    -0144-2 Nishith B, Chirantan M, Sanjula V, Harpreet S and Deepak S. (2014) Ventricular Septal Defect after Blunt Trauma in a Case of Preexisting Prosthetic Mitral Valve. World Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery, 4, 227-231. doi: 10.4236/wjcs.2014.412033
  4. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 19th edition

Cite this Article

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Dr. Simi Paknikar. (2015, October 20). Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) - Causes, Symptoms, Complications, Treatment, Prevention. Medindia. Retrieved on Dec 22, 2024 from https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/ventricular-septal-defect.htm.

  • MLA

    Dr. Simi Paknikar. "Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) - Causes, Symptoms, Complications, Treatment, Prevention". Medindia. Dec 22, 2024. <https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/ventricular-septal-defect.htm>.

  • Chicago

    Dr. Simi Paknikar. "Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) - Causes, Symptoms, Complications, Treatment, Prevention". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/ventricular-septal-defect.htm. (accessed Dec 22, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Dr. Simi Paknikar. 2015. Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) - Causes, Symptoms, Complications, Treatment, Prevention. Medindia, viewed Dec 22, 2024, https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/ventricular-septal-defect.htm.

View Non AMP Site | Back to top ↑