Ventricular Septal Defect Flashcards
What is the most common Congenital Heart Defect?
Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)
What is VSD?
Congenital hole in septum between ventricles
What direction is the shunt in VSD? Why?
- L –> R
- Because pressure in L ventricle > R ventricle
What are the different types of VSD? (3 things)
- Very small VSD (aka Restrictive VSD)
- Moderate sized VSD
- Large VSD
What happens in a Very small VSD (aka Restrictive VSD)?
Blood flow thru VSD so minimal so no significant increase in pulm blood flow
What happens in a Moderate sized VSD?
Blood flow thru VSD great enough to cause increase in pulm blood flow
What part of heart contraction is the Shunt in VSD happening in?
Systole
What is the pathophysiological steps of Moderate sized VSDs complications? (6 steps)
- L-R Shunt in systole
- Extra blood pumped directly into pulm circulation
- So no initial effect on R ventricle
- L heart receiving greater volume of blood
- L Atrium + Ventricle dilation
- Risk of CHF + Arrhythmias + Pulm HTN
What can the Pulm HTN from VSD lead to in the heart?
R ventricle wall hypertrophy as pumping against high pulm pressure
What is the pathophysiology of Large VSDs complications? (2 steps)
- Significant amount of blood passing thru L-R shunt
- HF + Severe Pulm HTN
When will you see signs of HF in a Large VSD?
After first wks of life
How do you get CF of HF from VSD? (3 steps)
- Initially high pulm artery pressure drops
- More blood allowed thru L-R shunt –> lungs
- Pulmonary Plethora + Cardiomegaly
How do you get CF of HF from VSD? (3 steps)
- Initially high pulm artery pressure drops
- More blood allowed thru L-R shunt –> lungs
- Pulmonary Plethora + Cardiomegaly
What is Pulm Plethora?
Appearance of increased pulm perfusion on CXR
What are the RF for VSD? (6 things)
- Maternal DM
- Maternal rubella (during preg)
- Alcohol (–> Foetal alcohol syndrome)
- Maternal Phenylketonuria (during preg)
- FHx of VSD
- Chromosomal abn
What are the CF of Very Small VSD (aka Restrictive VSD)?
Asymptomatic (or mild symptoms)
When would you even see a Very Small VSD pt?
When infant brought to med attention bc systolic murmur detected during routine exam
What are the CF of Moderate Sized VSD? (3 things)
- Sweating
- Fatigue
- Tachypnoea
When are CF of Moderate Sized VSD especially notable?
During feeding
What age do CF of Moderate Sized VSD appear?
2-3 months
Why do CF of Moderate Sized VSD only appear after 2-3 months?
Bc pulm vasc resistance decreases –> increase in L-R shunting
What are the CF of Large VSDs? (8 things)
- CHF symptoms
- SOB
- Feeding problems
- Dev issues (aka weight + height)
- Freq chest inf
- Clubbing
- Cyanosis (if Eisenmenger Syndrome develops)
- Haemoptysis (severe)