Ventricular Septal Defects

Question 1

What is a ventricular septal defect?

Answer 1

Birth defect of the heart in which there is a hole in the septum separating the two ventricles

Question 2

What is the most common congenital cardiac abnormality?

Answer 2

Ventricular septal defects

Question 3

Associations of VSD

Answer 3

Chromosomal disorders:
Down's syndrome
Edward's syndrome
Pat syndrome
Cri-du-chat syndrome

Question 4

Clinical features of ventricular septal defects

Answer 4

May be asymptomatic if small defect

SOBOE (during breastfeeding)

Poor weight gain

Pan-systolic murmur heard more prominently at left lower sternal border in 3rd and 4th intercostal spaces

May be a systolic thrill

Question 5

Investigations in VSD

Answer 5

Echo

CXR

ECG

Question 6

Management of VSD

Answer 6

Infants may be managed conservatively with increase caloric intake and follow up

For VDSs causing SSx of heart failure, diuretics e.g. captopril

Corrective surgery in severe cases

Question 7

What percentage of VSDs spontaneously resolve?

Answer 7

50%

Question 8

Complications of VSD

Answer 8

Aortic regurgitation

Infective endocarditis

Eissenmenger’s complex

Right heart failure

Pulmonary hypertension