A ventricular septal defect (VSD), a hole in the heart, is a common congenital heart defect. The hole (defect) occurs in the wall (septum) that separates the heart's lower chambers (ventricles) and allows blood to pass from the left to the right side of the heart. The oxygen-rich blood then gets pumped back to the lungs instead of out to the body, causing the heart to work harder.
Symptoms
- Poor eating, failure to thrive
- Fast breathing or breathlessness
- Easy tiring
Diagnosis
- Physical examination
- Echocardiogram
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Chest X-ray
- Cardiac catheterization
- Pulse oximetry
Treatment
- Medications (diuretics, beta blockers, such as metoprolol (Lopressor), propranolol (Inderal LA) and others, and digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxin Pediatric).
- Surgical repair.
- Catheter procedure
- Hybrid procedure.
