Version July 2025
Please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.
What is a ventricular septal defect? —
A ventricular septal defect, or "VSD," is a hole between 2 sections of the heart. The heart is divided into 4 sections, called "chambers." People with a VSD have a hole between the 2 lower chambers, called the "ventricles" (figure 1). A VSD changes the way that blood flows through the heart. If the VSD is large, this can cause serious health problems.
VSDs are a common heart problem. A child who has a VSD was born with it. They might only have a VSD, or they might also have other heart problems.
A VSD causes a heart murmur. This is an extra sound that doctors or nurses hear when they listen to the heart with a stethoscope.
What are the symptoms of a VSD? —
A baby or child with a small VSD might not have any symptoms. If the VSD is medium or large, it can cause symptoms by the time the baby is 2 to 8 weeks old. These can include:
●Heartbeat that seems faster than usual
●Breathing that is fast, noisy, or both
●Not gaining weight or growing as quickly as other babies
●Acting hungry, but having trouble eating – Babies with a VSD can get tired and sweaty when they try to eat.
●Pale skin
Should my child see a doctor or nurse? —
If a baby has a VSD, a doctor or nurse might find it before birth (on an ultrasound done during pregnancy) or soon after birth. But this does not always happen. That's because VSDs often cannot be seen on ultrasound, and some babies don't have any symptoms that would make the doctor suspect a VSD right away. See the doctor or nurse if your baby has any of the symptoms listed above.
Will my child need tests? —
Yes. If the doctor or nurse thinks that your child might have a VSD, they will probably order tests. These can include:
●Electrocardiogram ("ECG") – This measures electrical activity in the heart.
●Chest X-ray – This can be normal if your child has a small VSD. It can show changes to the heart or lungs if there is a medium or large VSD.
●Echocardiogram – This uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart as it beats. It can help the doctor make sure that a VSD is the cause of symptoms. It can also show how big the VSD is and exactly where it is in the heart. An echocardiogram can also show if a child has other heart problems and what they are.
How is a VSD treated? —
Treatment depends on how big the VSD is and if it causes symptoms.
Small VSDs usually do not cause any symptoms, and they often close on their own.
Children with a small VSD might not need any specific treatment unless the VSD causes problems. They can have:
●Regular check-ups – If your baby has a small VSD, they might only need regular check-ups to make sure that their heart stays healthy.
●Tests to check their heart – These can also show doctors if their heart is staying healthy.
Medium or large VSDs usually cause symptoms. Children with a medium or large VSD need regular check-ups to make sure that the heart is healthy and to look for any changes. They might also need treatment.
Treatments for medium or large VSDs can include:
●Medicines to help the heart
●Making sure that the child gets good nutrition – A baby with a medium or large VSD might need formula that has extra nutrition. This can help them gain weight and grow normally.
●Treatment to close the VSD – If a medium or large VSD does not close or get smaller once the baby is 6 to 12 months old, doctors can close it with:
•Surgery to patch the hole – This is the most common treatment to close a VSD.
•"Transcatheter closure" – A doctor places a thin tube into a blood vessel in an arm or leg. Then, they move the tube through the blood vessel to the heart. When the tube gets to the hole in the heart, they use the tube to put in a small device that closes the hole.
Patient education: Heart murmurs (The Basics)
Patient education: Atrioventricular canal defects (The Basics)
Patient education: ECG and stress test (The Basics)
