Your activity: 4 p.v.

Patient education: Ventricular septal defects in children (The Basics)

Patient education: Ventricular septal defects in children (The Basics)

What is a ventricular septal defect? — A ventricular septal defect, or "VSD," is a hole between 2 sections of the heart. The heart is divided into 4 sections, called "chambers." People with a VSD have a hole between the 2 lower chambers, called the "ventricles" (figure 1). A VSD changes the way blood flows through the heart. If the VSD is large, this can cause serious health problems.

VSDs are a common heart problem. A child who has a VSD was born with it. They might only have a VSD, or also have other heart problems.

A VSD causes a heart murmur. This is an extra sound doctors or nurses hear when they listen to the heart with a stethoscope.

What are the symptoms of a VSD? — A baby or child who has a small VSD might not have any symptoms. If the VSD is medium or large, it can cause symptoms by the time a baby is 2 to 8 weeks old. These can include:

Heartbeat that seems faster than usual

Breathing that is fast, noisy, or both

Not gaining weight or growing as quickly as other babies

Acting hungry, but having trouble eating – Babies with a VSD can get tired and sweaty when they try to eat.

Pale skin

Should my child see a doctor or nurse? — If a baby has a VSD, a doctor or nurse might find it before birth (on an ultrasound done during pregnancy) or soon after birth. But this does not always happen. That's because VSDs often cannot be seen on ultrasound, and some babies don't have any symptoms that would cause the doctor to suspect a VSD right away. See the doctor or nurse if your baby has any of the symptoms listed above.

Will my child need tests? — Yes. If the doctor or nurse thinks your child might have a VSD, they will probably order tests. These can include:

An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) – This test measures the electrical activity in the heart.

A chest X-ray – A chest X-ray can be normal if your child has a small VSD. It can show changes to the heart or lungs if there is a medium or large VSD.

An echocardiogram – This test uses sound waves to create a picture of the heart as it beats. It can help the doctor make sure a VSD is the cause of symptoms. It can also show how big the VSD is and exactly where it is in the heart. This test can also show if a child has other heart problems and what they are.

How is a VSD treated? — Treatment is different for each person. It depends on how big the VSD is and if it causes symptoms.

Small VSDs usually do not cause any symptoms and they often close on their own.

Children who have a small VSD might not need any specific treatment unless the VSD causes problems. They can have:

Regular checkups – If your baby has a small VSD, they might only need regular checkups. They need regular checkups to make sure the heart stays healthy.

Tests to check the heart – These tests can also show doctors if the heart is staying healthy.

Medium or large VSDs usually cause symptoms. Children with this type of VSD need regular checkups to make sure the heart is healthy and to look for any changes. They might also need treatment.

Treatments for medium or large VSDs can include:

Medicines to help the heart

Making sure a child gets good nutrition – A baby with a medium or large VSD might need formula that has extra nutrition. This can help the baby gain weight and grow normally.

Treatment to close the VSD – If a medium or large VSD does not close or get smaller by the time a baby is 6 to 12 months old, doctors can close it with:

Surgery to patch the hole – This is the most common treatment to close a VSD.

A procedure called "transcatheter closure" – In this treatment, a doctor places a thin tube into a blood vessel in an arm or leg. Then, they move the tube through the blood vessel to the heart. When the tube gets to the hole in the heart, the doctor uses the tube to put in a small device that closes the hole.

More on this topic

Patient education: Heart murmurs (The Basics)
Patient education: ECG and stress test (The Basics)

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Jan 01, 2023.
This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider's examination and assessment of a patient's specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms ©2023 UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved.
Topic 83036 Version 8.0