Ventricular septal defect (VSD) definition - medical term
A hole in the septum (the wall) between the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles).
V
entricular
S
eptal
D
efect is the most common type of heart malformation (congenital heart disease). At least 1 baby in every 500 is born with a VSD.
A VSD lets blood from the left ventricle (where
it is under relatively high pressure) shunt into the right ventricle
which has to do extra work to handle the additional blood, may have
trouble keeping up with the load, enlarge, and fail. The lungs
receive too much blood under too great pressure, the arterioles
(small arteries) in the lungs thicken up in response, and permanent
vascular damage can be done to the lungs.
Small VSDs (less than 0.5 square cm in area) permit only minimal shunting of blood and the pressure in the right ventricle remains normal and the heart (and lungs) function normally. Surgical repair is not recommended for small VSDs.
No matter what size a VSD is, it carries an increased risk for infection of the heart walls and valves (endocarditis). To prevent endocarditis, anyone with a VSD should take antibiotics before dental and other particular procedures.
With a large VSD (usually one greater than 1.0 square cm in area), there is a significant shunt into the right ventricle, excessive blood flow into the lungs, and pulmonary hypertension. The child may have labored breathing, difficulty feeding, and grow poorly. Medically, the heart that has a large VSD should be kept strong. Vascular disease in the lungs must not be allowed to develop. Surgery should be done to close a large VSD.
The prognosis (outlook) with VSD is generally excellent.
medical
dictionary, online medical dictionary, medical
terminology dictionary, free online medical
dictionary, medical dictionary, online medical
dictionary, medical terminology dictionary, free
online medical dictionary, dictionary medical,
dictionary medical online, dictionary medical
terminology, dictionary free medical online,
dictionary free medical, dictionary medical
terms, dictionary drug medical medicine,
dictionary health illustrated medical nursing
profession stedmans, dictionary English medical,
dictionary medical online terminology,
dictionary encyclopedia medical online,
condition dictionary medical, dictionary
medical, dictionary drug medical, medical
dictionary software, cyclopedic dictionary index
medical tabers thumb, medical dictionary, online
medical dictionary, medical terminology
dictionary
