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Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

What is a ventricular septal defect in children?

A ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a congenital heart defect. This means that your baby is born with it. A VSD is a hole in the wall (septum) that separates the 2 lower chambers of the heart (right and left ventricles). VSDs are one of the most common types of congenital heart defects.

The heart has 4 chambers: 2 upper (atria) and 2 lower (ventricles). Blood that is high in oxygen flows from the left atrium to the left ventricle and out to the body, where the vital organs use the oxygen. Blood with less oxygen flows from the right atrium to the right ventricle and out to the lungs. In the lungs, it picks up more oxygen.

Normally, the septal wall prevents the mixing of blood between the 2 ventricles of the heart. A VSD allows oxygen-rich (red) blood to pass abnormally from the left ventricle through the opening in the septum. Then it mixes with oxygen-poor (blue) blood in the right ventricle.

A large VSD can cause high pressure in the blood vessels in the lungs. The higher pressure can lead to lower oxygen levels in the body. If the VSD is large, your child may need some type of repair. Babies and children with larger VSDs often have symptoms such as breathing faster and harder than normal. Very small holes in the ventricular septum may not let much blood pass between the ventricles. In these cases, the heart and lungs don’t have to work harder. Sometimes these small holes will close up on their own.

There are different types of VSD. The type your child has depends on which part of the wall between the ventricles is involved. The size of the opening or hole also varies.

What causes a VSD in a child?

VSD may occur more often in some families. This is because of gene problems. Most of the time, healthcare providers don't know the cause of VSD.

What are the symptoms of a VSD in a child?

Your child may have symptoms from birth. Or your child may not have symptoms until they are a little older. The size of the opening or hole affects how bad your child’s symptoms are. So does the age at which your child first has symptoms. If the hole is small, the only sign may be a heart murmur that your healthcare provider hears with a stethoscope. With a larger opening, the heart and lungs have to work harder.  

This can cause symptoms, such as:

  • Tiredness
  • Fast breathing
  • Trouble breathing
  • Pale skin
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Enlarged liver
  • Poor feeding or tiring while feeding
  • Poor weight gain

Symptoms can occur a bit differently in each child. The symptoms of VSD may also be similar to symptoms of other conditions. Make sure your child sees the healthcare provider for a correct diagnosis.

How is a VSD diagnosed in a child?

Your child's healthcare provider may suspect a problem when they hear an abnormal sound (heart murmur) when listening to your child's heart with a stethoscope. If this happens, the healthcare provider may refer your child to a pediatric cardiologist. This is a healthcare provider who specializes in treating heart problems in children.

This provider will check your child and listen to your child’s heart and lungs. The details about the murmur will also help the provider make the diagnosis.

Tests may be needed to confirm the diagnosis. The tests your child has depend on their age and condition, and the provider’s preferences.

Chest X-ray

A chest X-ray shows the heart and lungs. With a VSD, a chest X-ray may show an enlarged heart. This is because the pulmonary artery, left atrium, and left ventricle get more blood than normal. There may also be changes in the lungs because of extra blood flow.

Electrocardiogram

This test records the electrical activity of the heart. It also shows abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias) and spots heart muscle stress.

Echocardiogram (echo)

An echocardiogram uses sound waves to make a moving picture of the heart and heart valves. This test can show the pattern and amount of blood flow through the septal opening. An echo is used to diagnose VSD.

Cardiac MRI

A cardiac MRI makes images of the body by using magnets and radio waves. It can show the heart defect and how much blood flow is moving through the VSD.

How is a VSD treated in a child?

Treatment will depend on your child’s symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is.

A small VSD may close on its own as your child grows. Some small defects don’t close on their own, but they still don’t need treatment. A larger VSD often needs to be fixed with open heart surgery or through procedures during cardiac catheterization. Once a child is diagnosed with a VSD, their pediatric cardiologist will check the defect regularly to see if it’s closing on its own.

Medicine

Some children may need to take medicine to help the heart work better. Children without symptoms may not need medicine.

Good nutrition

Babies with a larger VSD may get tired when feeding. They may not be able to eat enough to gain weight. They may need:

  • High-calorie formula or breastmilk. Your child may need nutritional supplements added to their formula or pumped breastmilk. This increases the number of calories in each ounce.
  • Supplemental tube feedings. Your child may need to be fed through a small, flexible tube. This tube passes through the nose, down the esophagus, and into the stomach. Your child may have tube feedings along with or in place of feedings. Babies who can drink part of their feeding may be fed the rest through a feeding tube. Infants who are too tired to feed may get all of their nutrition through the feeding tube.

Open heart surgery

The goal of open heart surgery is to close the septal opening before the lungs are damaged. Surgery will also help babies who have trouble feeding gain a normal amount of weight. Your child's cardiologist will decide when your child should have surgery. This may be based on echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization results. In surgery, your child’s healthcare provider will close the VSD with stitches or a special patch. Talk with your child's healthcare provider for more information.

Cardiac catheterization

A VSD may also be fixed during cardiac catheterization. In this procedure, a tool called a septal occluder is used with a catheter. The healthcare provider guides the catheter through the blood vessels to the heart. Once the catheter is in the heart, the provider closes the defect with the septal occluder. Only certain types of VSDs may be closed with this method. This procedure should be done in centers that have staff with experience doing transcatheter VSD repair.

What are possible complications of a VSD in a child?

Complications of an untreated VSD include:

  • Lung problems
  • Heart failure
  • Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
  • Heart valve problems
  • Poor growth and development

How can I help my child live with a VSD?

Small VSDs

Babies with small VSDs may have no symptoms. These children may not need medicine. They’ll still be checked often. If a defect is going to close, it usually happens by age 2. But some defects don’t close until age 4. These children usually grow and develop normally. They also have no activity restrictions and live normal, healthy lives.

Moderate to severe VSDs

If the VSD is moderate to severe, your child will be closely watched. Your child's healthcare provider will decide when and how your child’s VSD will be fixed. Before surgery, your child may need medicine and special feedings. Your child's healthcare team will give you information and support so you can care for them at home. Children who need surgery will be admitted to the hospital for surgery.

Babies who have trouble eating before surgery often have more energy right after surgery. They start to eat better and gain weight faster.

After surgery, older children can often be active without getting too tired. Within a few weeks, your child should be fully recovered. Your child’s healthcare team may give you instructions on how to care for your child.

Most children who have surgery for VSD will live normal, healthy lives. Their activity levels, appetite, and growth often return to normal. Your child may need antibiotics to prevent infections after leaving the hospital.

Ask your child's healthcare provider about your child’s outlook. When this condition is diagnosed early, the outcome is often excellent. The outlook may be poor when a VSD is diagnosed later in life, if complications occur after surgery, or if the VSD isn’t fixed. There is a risk for complications from a VSD. Children at risk for these problems should have follow-up care at a center that specializes in congenital heart disease.

When should I call my child's healthcare provider?

Call the healthcare provider if your child has:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Trouble eating
  • Any new symptoms

Key points about VSD in children

  • A VSD is an opening in the dividing wall between the two lower chambers of the heart.
  • The size of the opening affects how severe your child’s symptoms are.
  • Small VSDs may close on their own as your child grows. If the VSD is larger, your child will likely need surgery or a cardiac catheterization to fix it.
  • Most children whose defects close on their own or who have VSD repairs will live normal, healthy lives.

Next steps

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your child’s healthcare provider:

  • Know the reason for the visit and what you want to happen.
  • Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
  • At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you for your child.
  • Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed and how it will help your child. Also know what the side effects are.
  • Ask if your child’s condition can be treated in other ways.
  • Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.
  • Know what to expect if your child does not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.
  • If your child has a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
  • Know how you can contact your child’s healthcare provider after office hours. This is important if your child becomes ill and you have questions or need advice.