Print

Ventricular Septal Defect

Ventricular septal defect, or VSD, is a hole in the septum that separates the right and left ventricles of the heart (see fig. 2). This defect causes blood from the higher pressure left ventricle to be pushed into the right ventricle of the heart (see fig. 3). If the defect is large, there will be abnormally high blood pressures in the right ventricle and the pulmonary arteries.

When required, VSDs can be surgically closed with a patch (see fig. 4). This restores normal ventricular blood flow.

Figure 1: Cut away view of the normal heart.

Figure 2: Heart with a ventriclar septal defect (VSD).

Figure 3: Enlarged view of the ventricular septal defect showing oxygen-rich blood flowing from the left ventricle back into the right heart circulation.

Figure 4: Surgical patch closure of the ventricular septal defect.

cvml_0048a

Visit Ohio Heart and Vascular Center for more information.