Ventricular septal defects (VSD)

Treatment options for ventricular septal defects depend on the size of the opening in the ventricle. Almost 50 percent of VSDs are small and close spontaneously shortly after birth, requiring no further treatment. Larger defects need to be closed, often before the age of 1. Ventricular septal defects often occur in conjunction with other heart defects, therefore treatment is highly individualized.

Health Tips from Dr. Healy: Video: What men need to know about their cholesterol Choose another disease or condition... Allergic Rhinitis Allergies, Food Allergy & Asthma Center Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety Aortic Aneurysms Arrhythmia Arthritis, Osteo- (OA) Arthritis, Rheumatoid (RA) Asthma Atopic Dermatitis Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Back Pain Brain Tumor Bones, Joints & Muscles Center Breast Cancer Brain & Behavior Center Brain Tumor Cancer Center    Brain Tumor    Breast Cancer    Cancer Prevention    Clinical Trials    Colorectal Cancer    Endometrial Cancer    Living With and Beyond Cancer    Lung Cancer    Prostate Cancer    Skin Cancer Cardiomyopathy Cataracts Cholesterol Control Clinical Trials Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Colorectal Cancer Congenital Heart Disease Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes Center Diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Digestive Disorders Center Eczema Endometrial Cancer Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Eye & Vision Center Fibromyalgia Food Allergies Gallstone Disease Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) GERD Glaucoma Hay Fever Headache Heart Center Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Hepatitis C High Blood Pressure Hypertension Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Impotence Insomnia Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Living With and Beyond Cancer Losing Weight Lung Cancer Macular Degeneration Memory Loss Osteoarthritis (OA) Osteoporosis Parkinson's Disease Peptic Ulcer Prediabetes Prostate Cancer Respiratory Disorders Center Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Sexual & Reproductive Health Center Sinusitis Skin Cancer Sleep Apnea Sleep Center Stroke Type 1 Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes Ulcerative Colitis (UC) Weight Control Congenital Heart Defects (American Heart Association): Descriptions of over 10 types of congenital heart defects Congenital Heart Defects (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute): The NHLBI provides succinct information about how the heart works; explains assorted defects; lists symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment Congenital Heart Information Network: C.H.I.N. is an international organization that provides reliable information, support services, and resources to families affected my congenital heart disease Adult Congenital Heart Association: The ACHA is a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve the quality of life and extend the lives of adults with congenital heart defects. Clinical Trials: Congenital Heart Disease: A service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health Email this page Print this section

Isolated VSDs may be closed using a cardiac catheterization procedure. Commonly a small patch resembling a parachute is placed over the opening using a catheter; however, there are a variety of other patches that can be used as well. The cardiologist uses a catheter that enters the body through a leg or arm to place the patch. More detail about heart catheterization can be found in the testing section.

Not all VSDs are suitable for catheterization; in these cases heart surgery is necessary to close the VSD. This may be due to the location or size of the VSD or because the VSD occurs with other congenital defects. The procedure is highly individualized depending upon the patient's situation.