Septal Defects
Overview
Definition
Septal defects are problems with the structure of the inside of the heart at birth. The problems are on a wall that is between the two upper chambers of the heart called atria. There are also two lower chambers of the heart called ventricles.
In a healthy heart, the blood flows from the body to the right atrium. The blood then goes into the right ventricle. The right ventricle pumps this blood to the lungs to pick up fresh oxygen. The blood then returns to the left side of the heart. It enters the left atrium first, then down to the left ventricle. The left ventricle pushes the blood out to the rest of the body. The blood from the left side should not mix with blood from the right side.
Septal defects allow the blood to move between the left and right chambers. The blood most often moves from the left side of the heart into the right side. This means that blood that has just returned from the lungs may end up being sent right back to the lungs. The means that the heart and lungs have to work harder than they need to work. This can lead to heart failure.
There are three main types of septal defects:
- Atrial septal defect (ASD)—a hole in the wall between the atria
- Ventricular septal defect (VSD)—a hole in the wall between the ventricles
- Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD)—a mix of ASD, VSD, and problems with openings between chambers called valves
Ventricular Septal Defect |
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Risk Factors
Things that may raise the risk of these problems are:
- Family history of birth defects of the heart
- Exposure to a viral infection, drugs, or alcohol during pregnancy
- Taking certain medicines during pregnancy, such as those used to treat seizure disorder
- Genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Treatments
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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All rights reserved.
a (Atrioventricular Canal Defect; Atrioventricular Septal Defect; Endocardial Cushion Defect; Ventricular Septal Defect)
RESOURCES
American Heart Association http://www.heart.org
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development http://www.nichd.nih.gov
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Canadian Cardiovascular Society http://www.ccs.ca
The College of Family Physicians of Canada http://www.cfpc.ca
References
Atrial septal defects. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/atrial-septal-defects. Accessed December 18, 2020.
Congenital heart defects. American Heart Association website. Available at: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/CongenitalHeartDefects/Congenital-Heart-Defects%5FUCM%5F001090%5FSubHomePage.jsp. Accessed December 18, 2020.
Spicer DE, Hsu HH, et al. Ventricular septal defect. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2014 Dec 19;9:144.
Ventricular septal defect. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/ventricular-septal-defect. Accessed December 18, 2020.