Highlights & Basics
- Ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are defects in the interventricular septum that allow shunting of blood between the left and right ventricles.
- Usually congenital, but rarely acquired after myocardial infarction or trauma.
- May be associated with other congenital defects such as tetralogy of Fallot.
- Significant left-to-right shunting results in pulmonary hypertension, which, if left untreated, can progress to shunt reversal with cyanosis and Eisenmenger syndrome.
- Small shunts may close spontaneously in childhood and can be managed by observation.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
Images
Simplified diagram of the left ventricular septum showing the anatomical locations of the ventricular septal defects
Echocardiographic image of a type 4 (muscular) ventricular septal defect with color flow Doppler showing left-to-right shunt
Echocardiographic image with color flow Doppler showing left-to-right shunting across a type 1 ventricular septal defect at the supracristal (or doubly committed juxta-arterial) level
Echocardiographic image with color flow Doppler showing left-to-right shunting across a type 3 ventricular septal defect at the inlet cushion level
Doppler image showing spectral recording of continuous-wave Doppler showing the left-to-right gradient across the ventricular septal defect
X-ray image showing a type 4 (muscular) ventricular septal defect on left ventriculography
X-ray image showing a type 2 (membranous) ventricular septal defect on left ventriculography
X-ray image showing a type 2 (membranous) ventricular septal defect with an aneurysm on left ventriculography
X-ray angiographic image showing an aneurysm without left-to-right shunting
Echocardiographic image showing ventricular septal defect at the inlet cushion level
Citations
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Baumgartner H, De Backer J, Babu-Narayan SV, et al. 2020 ESC guidelines for the management of adult congenital heart disease. Eur Heart J. 2021 Feb 11;42(6):563-645.[Abstract][Full Text]
Expert Panels on Cardiac Imaging and Pediatric Imaging; Krishnamurthy R, Suman G, Chan SS, et al. ACR appropriateness criteria® congenital or acquired heart disease. J Am Coll Radiol. 2023 Nov;20(11s):S351-81.[Abstract][Full Text]
John AS, Jackson JL, Moons P, et al. Advances in managing transition to adulthood for adolescents with congenital heart disease: a practical approach to transition program design: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. J Am Heart Assoc. 2022 Apr 5;11(7):e025278.[Abstract][Full Text]
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