Ventricular Septal Defect Ventricular septal defects occur when
there are one or more openings in the wall between the
ventricles of the heart. These holes may: - Close up by
themselves during infancy - Lead to heart failure - Require
surgery - Be accompanied by disease of the blood vessels or the
lungs Small defects in the walls of the heart can often be heard
as loud, harsh murmurs in a baby's heart when he or she is
several months old. Larger ones can be heard when the baby is
only two to three weeks old. By the time the baby is six to
eight weeks old, signs of heart failure may appear as flooding
of the lungs occurs. Babies with significant defects or who are
in heart failure that has not been stabilized are at a high risk
of getting pneumonia and needing mechanical breathing support.
The baby's heart may become enlarged. The baby may fail to grow
or may develop endocarditis. The following may be used to
diagnose this defect or provide additional information before
surgery is performed to repair the condi