VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECTS

Abstract

Ventricular septal defects (VSD) are one of the most common congenital defects in children. They differ in size and have four differen t types consisting of membranous, trabecular, inlet, and supracristal based on where exactly on the ventricular septum they are found. There are a wide variety of tests that can diagnose and confirm VSD such as echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, X rays, computed tomography scans, and cardiac catheterization. Genetic risk factors have not yet bee n pinpointed, although other risk factors for VSDs are similar to those of other congenital defects. VSDs are often present in Trisomy 21 cases and can cause serious com plications if they go untreated. One of the most serious of those complications is Eisenmenger syndrome, which cannot be corrected with surgery. While medications can aid with symptoms of VSDs, they cannot cure the defects themselves and thus treatment opt ions include: waiting for the defect to close on its own, surgical closure of the defect, or correction using transcatheter devices. New research understanding both why VSDs occur and new methods with which they can be corrected can help lower these risks both short term and long term for our children of the future.