| From your Guide Dr.MANI |  | |
Ventricular Septal Defect - VSD | ||
| From your Guide Dr.MANI | | |
Ventricular Septal Defect - VSD | ||
| |
What happens if VSD's are left untreated ?
The changes I have just described keep progressing. Soon the heart fails to keep up with the high
blood flow, and heart failure sets in. When the lung blood vessels become very thick, the problem
of PULMONARY HYPERTENSION arises. This is a situation where the lung arteries are
severely damaged, and at this stage, even surgical repair of the VSD will not be able to cure the
disease. When the VSD is located in the upper part of the inter-ventricular wall, close to the aortic
valve, it can slowly make the aortic valve "leaky" - a condition called AORTIC
REGURGITATION. This usually takes many years.
In small VSD's, these effects are uncommon. But there is one complication peculiar to a small VSD
- INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS. Due to a turbulent jet of blood across the VSD, the inner lining
of the heart - endothelium - gets disrupted. Bacteria can stick to this injured area, and cause an
infection inside the heart.
VSD along with other defects
VSD may be found alone, as the only defect in a heart that is otherwise normal. Or it may form a
part of a "complex" of abnormalities. In this case, it may produce different effects. Some examples
of such diseases are TETRALOGY of FALLOT, TRANSPOSITION of the GREAT VESSELS
and DOUBLE OUTLET RIGHT VENTRICLE. To avoid confusion, I will describe these
conditions separately in other articles.
On what basis are VSD classified as large and small ?
There are many ways of classifying VSD. While a VSD might be described as being 8 mm. in
diameter, this is rather imprecise. An 8 mm. defect in an adult might be considered "small" while in
an infant, it would be "large". The most practical approach is comparing its size to the patient's
aortic valve. A VSD which is larger than one-half of the aortic valve orifice is considered
"significant" or large.
Should a VSD be repaired ? Find out .....
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