What are the ventricles? What is the Ventricular septum?

The heart has 2 pumps; pumping blood is the main function of the heart; the 2 pumps are separated by a wall called the ventricular septum. The right pump receives the blue blood which has to go to the lungs for picking up oxygen. This pump has to push blood into its vicinity (heart and lungs being close by within the chest); so the normal pressure in this pump is 30-35 mmHg.

The Left Pump pushes the red blood into the lungs; it has to ensure blood reaches all the parts of the body so the pressure here is equivalent to the blood pressure (upper number of BP i.e. Systolic).

What is a Ventricular septal defect (VSD) ?

A defect in the wall which separates the ventricles is called a VSD. The high pressure in the Left pump as compared to the Right ensures that the blood flows from the left to the right pump (therefore is called an L to R shunt). This implies red (left-sided) blood gets into the blue (right-sided) blood; this implies that in this condition the patient is not going to be blue.

How common is it?

It is one of the most common defects of the heart. Infact it is the most common defect.

Can it be detected before birth?

Yes, it can be detected before and at birth. Often, it will be detected on an ultrasound. But on fetal echocardiogram, there is a better chance of it being picked up. The way this hole is noticed is by seeing abnormal flow across the septum. But, during fetal life, the pressure between the 2 pumps is the same. So, there is not much flow across the hole and that makes it difficult to pick up.

What is the age at which it is most often diagnosed?

Most often it will get diagnosed around the first month of life. The child has maximum symptoms from the hole around 6 weeks of age.

Why is it not diagnosed earlier?

Since the pressure between the 2 chambers is same, no flow across the hole happens at birth and therefore, no extra sound is produced. As the lung pressure drops between 7th and 28th day of life, the significant flow starts across the hole; so, the sound gets heard of the flow across the hole.

How does a small hole differ from a large hole?

A small hole allows a little amount of blood to go across the hole. A large hole gets a lot more of blood across the hole. This extra amount of blood coming to the right side of the heart immediately gets transmitted to the lungs from where it goes to the left side of the heart. So, it is really the left side if the heart, the left upper and lower chambers which get to see this extra amount of blood!

If this blood amount is large, the left side of the heart gets dilated and volume overloaded. This can be seen on an X-ray as an enlarged heart. This reverses once the extra blood flow stops.

If the amount of blood is large, there will also be an increase in pressure in the right side of the heart and in the lungs. While with the Small VSD the volume will be so small the left heart won’t enlarge. And neither will the pressure in the right heart go up.



What is a moderate VSD?

A moderate VSD is one where the pressure does not go up, but the left heart gets enough extra blood flow to be dilated.

SIZE VOLUME OVERLOAD PRESSURE OVERLOAD Small No No Moderate Yes No Large Yes Yes

What is the treatment of VSD?

The treatment of VSD depends on size of the VSD.

SIZE TREATMENT Small No medical or surgical treatment. Maybe initially in early infancy, some medical treatment is needed. Rarely is surgery needed if the neighboring aortic valve starts leaking or if the VSD gets infected (Infective Endocarditis) which most often happens from Dental Caries. Moderate Will require medical treatment for sure and may require surgical treatment Large All large VSD’s need to be closed-THEY DO NOT CLOSE THEMSELVES!

At what age is VSD closed?

VSD when large has to be closed by the 3rd to 6th month of life. The decision to close the

VSD has to be made well in time to give family enough time to accommodate to the fact that

heart surgery has to be done on their child and that apart from the emotions of the decision

(how so ever safe it might be, parents will take time to decide and accept), there are

financial (or insurance clearance issues also).

Is VSD closure an emergency?

Usually, VSD closure is an elective procedure done in a planned manner, but, occasionally

may turn out to be emergency in some circumstances:

VSD with Coarctation VSD, large with a pneumonia Large VSD with Severe Malnutrition

Do small VSD’s ever required closure?

Small VSD’s do require closure when there is associated Aortic Valve Insufficiency or if there is Infective Endocarditis. These are rare situations. Infective endocarditis is a preventable complication. Aortic Insufficiency is on the other hand, not within the control of pt or the physician. Echocardiographic annual monitoring of the Small VSD’s is needed to be sure of the onset of aortic insufficiency.

Do small VSD’s ever required closure?

Small VSD’s do require closure when there is associated Aortic Valve Insufficiency or if there is Infective Endocarditis. These are rare situations. Infective endocarditis is a preventable complication. Aortic Insufficiency is on the other hand not within the control of pt or the physician. Echocardiographic annual monitoring of the Small VSD’s is needed to be sure of the onset of aortic insufficiency.

What are the prerequisites for VSD Closure transcatheter?

Transcatheter VSD closure of Muscular VSD’s cannot be done in children < 7.5Kg. The limitation is in the hardware for such small babies. Cardiologists who have attempted doing the procedure in smaller babies have faced tremendous difficulties and work towards performing these procedures in children around 5 Kg in weight continues.

What is the outlook of children with VSD Closure: Device or Surgical?

Excellent