Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)
- Most common CHD.
- Defect in ventricular septum.
- High Pressure in LV forces oxygenated blood back to RV.
- Small defects often close spontaneously in the first 2 years of life while large defects require surgical repair within the 1st year.
Symptoms of VSD
- Asymptomatic
- Rapid breathing
- Excessive Sweating
- Poor weight gain
- Congestive Heart Failure, usually within 6 to 8 weeks of life if defect is large
- Pulmonary Hypertension if defect is large
- Eisenmenger’s syndrome
Signs of VSD
- Depend on the size of the defect
- Loud harsh pansystolic heart murmur
- Palpable thrill
- Parasternal heave (RVH)
- Signs of congestive heart failure: tachycardia, tachypnea, respiratory distress (retractions), grunting, difficulty with feeding, diaphoresis, displaced apex beat, and hepatomegaly
Treatment for VSD
- Lasix and Captopril (ACE inhibitors)
- Surgery is patching the defect by pericardium or Dacron (open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass)
- Pulmonary artery banding to reduce blood flow to lungs if not stable for surgery
- Percutaneous Device closure