Ventricular Septal Defect ( Vsd )

Ventricular Septal Defect is one of the commonest congenital malformations of the heart, accounting for up to 40% of all cardiac anomalies. Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) is known as a hole in the heart. The hole is described as a defect in the septum between the Ventricles of the heart (left and right). It is more common in Newborn and children. During the fetus development, the right and left ventricle walls of the heart are normally not separated, and the walls are formed as the fetus grows. As the child is born, the walls of the heart should already have formed completely. Like Atrial Septal defect, VSD usually closes on its own in new born, if not, we have the VSD, which can lead and contribute to cardiovascular defects, depending on its size.

The heart consists of four chambers that help transport blood oxygenated to the body tissues and organs. The heart has two superior chambers (right and Left Atrial) and two inferior Chambers (right and left ventricles). These chambers, during blood transportation, the help divide oxygenated blood from de-oxygenated blood, therefore, they never meet. The blood flow from the Superior and inferior vena Cava, into the right atrium, into the right ventricle, and into the pulmonary trunk, through the pulmonary valves, where the pulmonary trunk divides into left and right pulmonary arteries, into the lungs, where the blood is exchange for the oxygenated one. The blood returning to the heart via the pulmonary arteries and deliver the oxygenated blood into the left atrium and it passes into the left ventricles and into the aortic arch via the semilunar valve. The blood then is transported to the rest of the body organs, in need of oxygen.

The right Ventricle has free edges which are attached ...

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...which detects the volume and pressure. As for larger defects, the chest radiography is used, which can detect chamber enlargement (in patients with Eisenmerger’s syndrome) to some degree, depending on the shunt’s volume. The Echocardiography is used to evaluate the defect by detecting the presence of elevated pulmonary artery pressure, the right ventricular out flow and insufficiency of the aortic valve. If there is a complex lesion, then Magnetic Resonance Imaging can be used. Cardiac Catheterization, which gives accurate measurement of pulmonary vascular resistance, the volume of shunting and the pulmonary reactivity to diagnoses the defect.

In most cases, treatment is not needed if it’s a smaller VSD. In newborn, the VSDs should close as the heart grows within the first year. But surgical closure treatment may be required for those with medium or larger defect.