Symptoms may include:
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Breathlessness
If the defect is minor, symptoms of the defect may appear later upon childhood. The occurrence of symptoms varies according to the degree of severity of the defect, that is, the size of the hole and other associated heart defects.
A murmur upon auscultation of the heart can be a sign that your baby has a heart defect. However, in some cases, ventricular septal defects can be detected by ultrasound before birth.
In some cases, ventricular septal defects can’t be detected until the person reaches the later part of their life. Shortness of breath or a heart murmur upon auscultation may be the signs of a ventricular septal defect.
Diagnosis & Medications
DIAGNOSIS
Ventricular septal defects often produce a murmur upon heart auscultation. If your primary care physician or cardiologist (an internist who specializes in treating diseases of the heart), he or she will request a couple of tests which include the following:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG).This test records the electrical activity of the heart and could shed light on any heart damage that occurred in the past.
- A video image of the heart is produced in this test.
- Cardiac catheterization.A catheter is inserted into a blood vessel and guided towards the heart.
- Chest X-ray
- Pulse oximetry.Clipping of a small device to the fingertips of the individual to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood.
TREATMENT
Many cases with minor ventricular septal defects won’t require surgical intervention to close the hole. Your doctor will most probably observe and treat symptoms associated with the defect.
Surgical intervention is warranted for moderate to major ventricular septal defects to resolve the symptoms associated with the defect. Symptoms for these cases may be debilitating.
Medications
Medications for ventricular septal defect may include those to:
- Lessen the amount of fluid in the lungs and bloodstream.Medications such as diuretics like furosemide.
- Maintain a regular heart rhythm.These include beta-blockers such as atenolol, propranolol, and carvedilol.
Surgical intervention
Moderate to major cases of ventricular septal defects need surgery to close the hole in the septum. This procedure is called surgical repair. Doing so avoids further complications from the defect and helps in the resolution of the symptoms associated with the defect.