Ventricular septal defect

Alternative names:

interventricular septal defect; VSD

Treatment:

In mild cases, no treatment is indicated. With congestive heart failure, medications such as digitalis (digoxin) and diuretics may be prescribed to control symptoms. Surgical repair of the defect should be done between the ages of 2 and 5 years old.

Expectations (prognosis):

Many small defects will close on their own. For those defects that do not spontaneously close, the outcome is good with surgical repair. Complications may result if the defect is not treated.

Complications:

• congestive heart failure
• infective endocarditis
• aortic insufficiency
• damage to the electrical conduction system of the heart during surgery (causing arrhythmias)
• delayed growth and development (failure to thrive in infancy)

Calling your health care provider:

Most often, this condition is diagnosed during routine examination of an infant. Call your infant's health care provider if the baby seems to be having difficulty breathing, or if the baby seems to have an unusual number of respiratory infections.