Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)
What is a ventricular septal defect (VSD)?
Some
children are born with a hole in the wall between the two
lower chambers of the heart, called the ventricles.
This hole is called a ventricular septal defect. Because
the hole can vary in location and size, the cardiologist may
observe the child to see whether the hole will close on its
own. Many holes need to be closed with cardiac surgery. An
operation called a pulmonary artery banding may be done to
relieve severe symptoms. Later the band can be removed and
the defect can be repaired with open heart surgery.
Preparing for the procedure
Prior
to cardiac surgery, this heart defect will be diagnosed with
an EKG, a chest x-ray and an echocardiogram. Some children
require cardiac catheterization to measure the pressure in
the lungs. In addition, blood tests are conducted to be sure
that there is no infection and no problem with clotting, and
that normal electrolyte levels are in the blood. A blood test
to determine the blood type and compatibility will be performed
so that blood will be available for the surgery.
During the procedure
The
child will be placed under general anesthesia, and special
monitoring intravenous lines will be put in. The chest is
entered through the sternum (breastbone). The heart/lung machine
is then connected. With the heart stopped and empty, the right
atrium is then opened. Working through the tricuspid valve,
the hole is visualized and repaired with a synthetic patch.
The heart is then allowed to fill and beat. A drainage tube
is placed and temporary pacemaker wires are usually placed
to be used, if needed. The chest is then closed. The child
is allowed to awaken from anesthesia in the Pediatric Intensive
Care Unit and is taken off the breathing machine within a
few hours. Occasionally, the child may remain on the breathing
machine overnight.
After the procedure
After surgery the child will need a number of days to recover from anesthesia, from the use of the heart-lung bypass machine and from the surgery. Initially, the child will be on a ventilator (breathing machine) and may need support from intravenous medicines and a temporary pacemaker. Once the breathing tube (endotracheal tube) is out, the main goals are for the child to return to normal activity and to resume normal eating and gain weight.
Click here for recovery guidelines after discharge for congenital heart defect repair at the Inova Heart Center.
- Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Repair
- Ventricular Septal Defect
- Tetralogy of Fallot Repair
- Arterial Switch for TGA
- Atrioventricular Canal Surgery
- Bidirectional Glenn
- Fontan
- Heart Valve Repair and Replacement
- Ross Procedure for AVR
- Patent Ductus Arteniosus
- Coarctation of the Aorta Repair
- Systemic to Pulmonary Shunt
- Pediatric Recovery
