Q. What is ventricular septal defect?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a type of congenital heart disease where there is a hole between the two ventricles of the heart. This defect typically occurs when part of the wall separating the two chambers does not fully form as a fetus develops during pregnancy. It is one of most common types of congenital heart diseases and can occur in isolation or association with other cardiac defects such as patent ductus arteriosus, atrial septal defect (ASD), and Tetralogy of Fallot.
In normal circumstances, oxygenated blood from the left side of the body enters into its respective chamber in which it mixes with deoxygenated blood from both sides before being pumped to circulate around body for oxygen consumption by muscles and organs. However, VSD allows large amounts right-ventricular blood to flow directly into left -ventricle due to incompletely closed membrane. As more ‘mixing’ occurs due to this excess valve leak it causes left-sided chamber overload leading to increased pulmonary hypertension and damage if not addressed early on in medical intervention.
The differences between Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) versus Ventricular Septal Defect depend primarily on size and location within smaller vessels called "septa". When located nearer either atriums, close proximity results in higher risk ASDs than those located more proximate larger ventricles since pressure near them may become acutely higher resulting potential tissue damage over time as well systemic problems including Transposition Great Arteries Type 2 or Eisenmenger Syndrome requiring surgical repair immediately after birth usually requiring newborns take anticoagulants prevent embolic stroke episodes due narrowing/blockage high velocity jet formed across hole ASD affects children pediatric age group however adults also develop these problems too secondary trauma their own activity levels lifestyle choices etc thus often requires special multidisciplinary team approach diagnosis treatment long term management patients need follow up visits doctor regularly monitor progression condition especially those involve Pulmonary Hypertension syndrome because this related disorders Asthma bronchiolitis allergy prone skin becomes important educate public understand seriousness importance precautionary steps they take help prevent avoid further health complications!