This is an opening or a hole in the ventricular septum (a wall in the heart) and is generally classified according to its location and size into small, medium or large ventricular septal defects.
What are the causes for the ventricular septal defect (VSD) ?
It is a congenital heart problem, initiated when the baby is in-utero (in the mother’s womb) only. In most children, the cause of a ventricular septal defect (VSD) remains unknown. The development of the heart, in itself is a large field of study. Formation of the heart tube, heart septae, its chambers, and resultant body and lung circulations is a complex phenomenon. Disruption at any point during this formation stage can result in a congenital heart defect. Genetic disorders such as Down Syndrome, Turner Syndrome & DiGeorge Syndrome can be responsible for these alterations.
How does a ventricular septal defect (VSD) affect the heart ?
Defects can close spontaneously, although some defects might not close completely. Persistent defects, which do not close, may predispose patients to endocarditis (inflammation of the inner wall of the heart), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), heart failure (the heart decreases/loses its capability to pump blood), aortic regurgitation (reverse back-flow of blood, from the body back into the heart), and pulmonary hypertension (high pressure in the arteries leading to the lungs).
What are the clinical signs & symptoms of ventricular septal defect (VSD) ?
Small defects are asymptomatic. They could be small to begin with or they could be larger defects which have involuted by themselves. The unusual findings include a distinct murmur (it is heard on the stethoscope). If the opening is large, the child may have difficulty breathing. Infants are unable to thrive and grow, at a standard rate. Symptoms could maybe occur a few weeks after birth. Increased blood pressure may arise in the blood vessels of the lungs because an increased load of blood is being pumped in the lungs. Eventually, this may cause enduring damage to the blood vessels of the lung.
What is the Diagnostic Evaluation of ventricular septal defect ?
Non-invasive tools that accurately delineate the morphology of VSDs and associated defects are ;
- Electrocardiography
- Chest Radiography
- Echocardiography
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Invasive tools
- Cardiac Catheterization : Catheterization can give accurate measurement of lung vascular resistance and volume of shunting. Angiography can provide information on the location of a defect & the number of defects.
How can the ventricular septal defect (VSD) be treated?
- Medical Management
The management of the infant and child is largely dependent on symptoms seen in child. No medical management is required for the smaller defects. However, the medium-sized and larger-sized defects do require medical management and subsequent surgical closure. - Surgical Closure
The need for surgical management is dictated by the location of the ventricular septal defect . Advances in surgical and bypass techniques, catheter techniques and devices, & timing of surgical repair have greatly decreased the morbidity associated with surgical closure.
Sealing a big ventricular septal defect by open-heart surgery typically is done in infancy or childhood even in patients with hardly any symptoms, to put a stop to complications afterwards. What is done usually is a patch of synthetic material or pericardium (the outer lining of the heart) is stitched over the ventricular septal defect to secure it entirely. Later this patch gets incorporated in the healing tissue and becomes a permanent element of the heart.
What are the precautions to be taken for a child with ventricular septal defect ?
If the VSD is minute enough to be left untreated, or if the ventricular septal defect has been treated, your child may not really need to heed any specific precautions concerning exercise and physical activity. He or she can take part in the routine daily activities without much increased risk.
Children or adults with ventricular septal defect will have to go for routine follow-up with a cardiologist. In severe cases, medicines and more surgery might be recommended.
What are the complications that may be encountered in ventricular septal defect ?
People with congenital heart problems, such as ventricular septal defect, are at an increased risk of infective endocarditis. It is an inflammation of the inner endocardium and the valves, brought about by infectious agents, most commonly bacteria. Consult your cardiologist about the need to take antibiotics prior to dental procedures and surgeries to help avoid endocarditis.
How to find pediatric cardiac surgeons for VSD closure procedure ?
Now you can find pediatric cardiac surgeons from different hospitals and destinations for VSD closure procedure. You can avail opinions from multiple pediatric cardiac surgeons, get approximate cost of VSD closure procedure from various heart hospitals, compare things and then choose a pediatric cardiac surgeon for VSD closure procedure.
Find a pediatric cardiac surgeon for VSD closure procedure on Hinfoways. Make an informed choice.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and hence SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, care or evaluation by a qualified doctor/physician or other relevantly qualified healthcare provider.
