What is a VSD?
A ventricular septal defect is a hole in the wall between the heart's two lower chambers — the ventricles, which do the main work of pumping blood to the body and lungs. It is the single most common congenital heart defect.
VSDs vary enormously in size and position. A small VSD may never cause a problem and often closes on its own. A large one lets a significant amount of blood leak from the high-pressure left ventricle into the right side, overloading the lungs and, over time, the heart muscle itself.
Signs that may point to it
How it is diagnosed and treated
An echocardiogram sizes the hole, locates it precisely, and shows its effect on the heart and lung pressures. Many small VSDs are simply watched, since a large proportion close naturally in the first years of life.
A VSD that needs closure may be treated by catheter-delivered device, where its position and the surrounding rim of tissue make that safe, or by surgical closure through our partner hospital network where it does not. Some infants with a large VSD and symptoms need treatment sooner rather than later, which is why early, accurate diagnosis matters.