The heart has 4 compartments (chambers), 2 on the right and 2 on the left. The chambers relax to fill with blood, and then contract to pump the blood out.
The 2 upper chambers (the right atrium and left atrium) let blood into the heart
The 2 lower chambers (the right and left ventricles) pump blood out
The 2 right chambers pump blood returning from your body to your lungs
The 2 left chambers pump blood returning from your lungs to your body
Blood goes to your lungs to pick up oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide.
What are atrial and ventricular septal defects?
A septum is a wall between 2 chambers.
Atrial and ventricular septal defects are holes in the walls that separate the left and right sides of the heart
Babies who have these holes are born with them
The holes let some blood flow the wrong way through the heart
The bigger the hole, the more blood flows the wrong way
Atrial septal defects (ASD) are holes between the upper chambers of the heart (the atria).
Ventricular septal defects (VSD) are holes between the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles).
ASD and VSD are among the most common heart birth defects
Sometimes these defects don’t cause any symptoms, though a large hole can be a serious problem
Doctors diagnose ASD and VSD using echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart)
Small ASDs and VSDs sometimes close up on their own—if this happens, it's usually by the time a child is 3 years old
To fix these defects, doctors may do surgery
Sometimes, children with an ASD or VSD also have other heart defects.
Septal Defect: A Hole in the Heart's Wall
A septal defect is a hole in the wall (septum) that separates the heart into the left and right sides. Atrial septal defects are located between the heart's upper chambers (atria). Ventricular septal defects are located between the lower chambers (ventricles). In both types, some oxygenated blood, intended for the body, is shortcircuited. It is returned to the lungs rather than pumped to the rest of the body. |
What causes ASDs and VSDs?
Babies who have an ASD or VSD are born with them. Doctors aren't sure what causes them.
What are the symptoms of ASDs and VSDs?
Symptoms depend a lot on how big the hole is and exactly where it's located.
An ASD usually doesn’t cause symptoms, though sometimes a child grows more slowly than expected. If your child has a large ASD that isn't treated, the child may have health problems in adulthood such as:
Getting tired and short of breath easily
High blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension)
A VSD that's small may not cause any symptoms. But larger VSDs usually start causing problems when a baby is 4 to 6 weeks old. Symptoms include:
Faster breathing
Difficulty feeding
Sweating while eating
Slow weight gain
These are signs of heart failure.
If a VSD isn't treated, it can cause:
High blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension)
How can doctors tell if my child has an ASD or VSD?
Doctors suspect ASD or VSD if they hear certain types of heart murmurs (an unusual sound made by abnormal blood flow through the heart). Doctors confirm the diagnosis by:
Echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart)
They'll also do other tests such as:
ECG/EKG (electrocardiography—a painless test that measures the heart’s electrical currents and records them on a piece of paper)
Sometimes, chest x-rays
How do doctors treat ASDs and VSDs?
Small ASDs and VSDs often close up on their own before the child turns 3 years old. Treatment depends on the size of the hole and your child’s symptoms.
If an ASD hasn't closed on its own by the time a child is 2 or 3, doctors may:
Insert a catheter (thin, flexible tube) through a vein to reach your child’s heart and plug the hole with a small device
Sometimes, do surgery to patch the hole in the heart
A small VSD doesn't usually need treatment. If treatment is needed, doctors may:
Do surgery to close the hole
Before surgery, doctors usually give your child heart medicines to help with symptoms. The medicines may also allow time for the hole to close on its own.
