A condition in which blood can flow between the two ventricles of the heart, because the intraventricular septum has not developed properly.
Ventricular septal defects are heart defects that are present at birth. The lower two chambers of the heart (known as ventricles) are separated by the ventricular septum. Ventricular septal defects can occur in any portion of the ventricular septum. Blood returning from the lungs to the left ventricle flows to the right ventricle through the hole instead of being pumped into the aorta. The size and location of the defect determine the severity of the symptoms. This condition may be associated with other congenital heart defects or syndromes (e.g., Down syndrome). Ventricular septal defects may also be known as congenital ventricular defects and VSD. The exact cause of ventricular septal defects is not fully understood.
Common congenital heart defect, characterized by an abnormal opening in the septum dividing the ventricles, which allows blood to pass from the left to the right ventricle. Small openings may cause no symptoms and may heal spontaneously during childhood. Larger openings may cause symptoms of congestive heart failure and usually require surgical repair of the defect. An acute ventricular septal defect can occur as a complication of myocardial infarction.
Cardiac arrhythmia resulting in a heart rate greater than 150 beats per minute; often, the heart is unable to pump blood effectively, and the patient may develop cardiac arrest; the treatment of life-threatening ventricular tachycardia is defibrillation.
An abnormal opening between the ventricles, allowing blood to shunt back and forth.
A hole in the septum (wall) between the ventricles (two lower chambers) of the heart. Because of the defect, blood that does not normally flow between the ventricles can flow from the left ventricle to the right as the ventricle contracts, increasing blood flow in the right side of the heart. If the hole is large enough to substantially increase blood flow, the right ventricle and the lungs must work harder to compensate. Over time this can lead to abnormal enlargement of the right ventricle and pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs). Fluid accumulation in the lungs and cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat) may also follow. The defect also increases the risk of a blood clot’s traveling to the brain, resulting in a stroke.
An inherited defect of the heart. The septum (partition) separating the two ventricles is pierced by a hole which, if large, results in blood being diverted to the lungs at a greater pressure than normal. Half of the defects seal themselves spontaneously, but where spontaneous closure is considered unlikely, early surgical correction (repair of the septal defect) avoids the most serious complication irreversible pulmonary hypertension. A quarter of patients with VSD have other cardiac defects.
An abnormal opening in the septum between the ventricles of the heart that may produce shunting of blood from left to right, or other diseases.
An anomaly or aperture in the ventricular septum, the membranous partition that divides the two lower chambers of the heart.
The medical term indicating a passage between the two lower chambers of the heart. This anomaly is congenital and often exists as a small opening that can naturally close without intervention. Surgical procedures might be necessary for larger defects, typically yielding positive outcomes.