Congenital and Acquired Ventricular Septal Defects

Abstract

Congenital ventricular septal defects (VSD) are the second most common congenital heart defect after bicuspid aortic valves. Congenital VSDs vary greatly in location, clinical presentation, and associated lesions. A full understanding of these defects requires a certain familiarity with the septation of the ventricles and normal post-natal appearance of the interventricular septum (IVS). Acquired VSDs include post myocardial infarction and iatrogenic VSDs. Accordingly, this chapter begins with a concise description of the ventricular septation and normal anatomy of the IVS. The remaining paragraphs describe the anatomy and patho-physiopathology of the most common congenital and acquired VSDs. Percutaneous interventions on VSDs is addressed in Chap. 28.