Ventricular Septal Defect Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
A ventricular septal defect is an anatomical abnormality of the heart in the form of a hole in the wall (septum) of the heart that separates the two lower chambers of the heart (ventricles). This disorder is classified as a congenital heart defect.
Under normal conditions, the right ventricle of the heart pumps oxygen-poor blood to the lungs, while the left ventricle functions to pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. The right and left ventricles of the heart are normally separated by a septum. If there is a defect, oxygen-rich and poor blood can mix.
Symptoms
In a small hole, there may be no symptoms of a ventricular septal defect. But in larger holes, it will make the heart and lungs work harder so that symptoms can arise:
- breathing difficulties
- rapid and heavy breathing
- tired easily while breastfeeding
- difficult weight gain and stunted growth and development due to increased caloric needs
- excessive sweating due to increased sympathetic nervous stimulation
- in advanced cases, tightness, blueness, fainting, chest pain, or coughing up blood can be found when carrying out activities that are quite high in intensity
Reason
Until now, the exact cause of ventricular septal defects is unknown. However, by the time a baby is born, the dividing wall between the left and right chambers of the heart has generally been formed. But in the case of this disorder, the wall has not been completely closed and a hole is still formed.
It is estimated that several factors influence the incidence of ventricular septal defects, such as maternal factors (for example, having diabetes in the mother) and genetic disorders (history of abnormalities in the heart or non-cardiac in parents or siblings).
Diagnosis
To determine the diagnosis of a ventricular septal defect, the doctor will conduct a thorough examination. Usually, patients can find abnormalities in heart sounds called murmurs. To confirm the diagnosis, an echocardiographic examination is generally performed, which is an examination of the structure of the heart using ultrasound.
Treatment
In cases of small ventricular septal defects that do not cause symptoms, it is enough for a child to be monitored regularly. In many cases of abnormalities, this hole in the heart chamber can close by itself with age.
The assessment of treatment for this disorder depends on the size of the hole, the child’s symptoms, and the child’s general state of health. If necessary, surgery can be recommended, either with cardiac catheterization or open heart surgery ( open heart surgery ) to correct the abnormalities that occur.