Ventricular septal defect

A ventricular septal defect is a type of congenital heart disease. Congenital heart disease refers to heart problems a baby is born with. These heart problems are usually diagnosed at or before birth.

The heart is a muscular pump with four chambers. The two bottom chambers—the left ventricle and the right ventricle—are separated by a wall of tissue called a septum. A ventricular septal defect is a hole in this wall.

A very small hole may not cause problems. It may close on its own.

When the hole is large, some of the blood may flow through it from the left ventricle to the right ventricle. So the heart may pump too much blood to the lungs. Over time, this can damage the lungs and weaken the heart.

If the hole is large and the heart has to work too hard, a baby may have symptoms, such as:

• Fast breathing.
• Sweating while feeding.
• Not eating well.
• Trouble gaining weight.

Your doctor may hear abnormal heart sounds, such as a heart murmur, when examining your newborn.

Your doctor will order tests to find the cause of abnormal sounds or of symptoms. The most common test used to diagnose this problem is called an echocardiogram, or "echo" for short. It uses sound waves to make an image of your baby's heart.

Your baby may have other tests to find the problem, such as an EKG (electrocardiogram) or a chest X-ray. Another test may look at the amount of oxygen in the blood.

A fetal ultrasound, which looks at the baby's heart, may find this problem before birth.

A baby may not need treatment to close the hole if it is small and not likely to cause symptoms or problems. Sometimes a small hole will close over time.

If the hole is larger or starts causing symptoms, your doctor may suggest a procedure or surgery to close the hole.

Your doctor will explain what symptoms to watch for at home. Regular checkups will help your doctor watch your baby for symptoms over time.

• Give your baby medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you think your baby is having a problem with a medicine.
• Watch for symptoms that may mean there is a problem. These include fast breathing, sweating while eating, not eating well, and not gaining enough weight.
• Help your baby eat enough. This can be hard for some babies who have a heart problem. They may get tired when eating, so they may eat less and may not get enough calories.
  • Note your baby's first signs of hunger, such as fidgeting and sucking on a fist. Your baby will have more energy to eat well if your baby is not tired from crying.
  • Try to use a soft, special nipple made for babies born early. These nipples make it easier for your baby to get enough formula or breast milk if you bottle-feed.
  • Burp your baby a lot, especially when using a bottle. Babies who have trouble sucking take in large amounts of air when they eat. This can make them feel full before they get enough formula or breast milk.
• Make sure that your child gets all the recommended vaccines, which helps keep your child healthy. Make sure family members and people who are in close contact with your child also get recommended vaccines.
• Keep your child away from smoke. Do not smoke or let anyone else smoke around your child or in your house. Being around smoke can make your child's heart problems worse.
• Congenital heart disease can increase your child's risk of an infection in the heart. Talk to your doctor about your child's risk. Your child may need to take antibiotics before certain dental or surgical procedures to prevent infection. And be sure your child takes good care of their teeth and gums.