Congenital Heart Conditions - Ventricular Septal Defects

A former cardiologist with Owensboro Health in Kentucky, Peter Gregor, MD, has helped patients with many types of heart disease. Peter Gregor, MD’s professional priorities encompass researching, diagnosing, and treating adult congenital heart disease.

Adult congenital heart disease comes in many forms, the most common of which is a ventricular septal defect (VSD). With VSDs, the patient is born with a hole in the ventricular septum, which is the wall that separates the left and right sides of the lower heart. In 500 births, one infant will typically have a VSD, and isolated VSDs make up at least one in every five congenital heart defects. They can occur alongside other congenital heart defects as well, however.

Most small VSDs never require treatment, but large untreated VSDs can pose significant health risks. High blood pressure in the lungs often occurs in women with large VSDs, as does low blood oxygen. Large VSDs should be treated in childhood or infancy, as once these negative symptoms present themselves, VSD closure may no longer be possible. Heart failure can also occur as a result of VSDs, especially with a sufficiently large hole, due to the pumping of extra blood into the lungs with each heartbeat.