Do babies survive with a ventricular septal defect?

It is the most common heart problem that babies are born with. Many defects in the ventricular septum close themselves and cause no problems. Otherwise, medicines or surgery can help. Most babies born with a defect in the septum have normal survival.

What is ventricular septal defect in infants?

During fetal development, a ventricular septal defect occurs when the muscular wall separating the heart into left and right sides (septum) fails to form fully between the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles).

Does ventricular septal defect go away?

“Some VSDs are so small they go away on their own as a child grows, while larger ones will need surgery,” Dr. Hoyer said.

How do you treat VSD in babies?

Procedures to treat VSD may include:

1. Surgical repair. This procedure of choice in most cases usually involves open-heart surgery under general anesthesia.
2. Catheter procedure. Closing a ventricular septal defect during catheterization doesn’t require opening the chest.

How common is VSD in newborns?

Ventricular septal defects are among the most common congenital heart defects, occurring in 0.1 to 0.4 percent of all live births and making up about 20 to 30 percent of congenital heart lesions. Ventricular septal defects are probably one of the most common reasons for infants to see a cardiologist.

How long can you live with a VSD?

Unfortunately, most people with a moderate or large VSD — even one that’s repaired —are more likely to have a lower life expectancy, especially if the VSD was not repaired early. For people who have a VSD that isn’t repaired, about 87\% of them will be alive 25 years after their diagnosis.

Do all babies with VSD have Down syndrome?

An additional weakness is that although all newborns had a neonatal echocardiogram, the type of VSD was not recorded in many. Since none had trisomy 21, this does not affect our overall conclusion that a prenatally visualized VSD is not associated with a significant risk for Down syndrome.

Do babies with heart defects sleep more?

The heart must pump faster to meet the body’s needs. The body’s metabolism is also faster under these conditions. Your child needs extra calories to maintain weight and grow. Your child may become tired quickly since the body is working harder under the stress of the heart defect.

How long can a baby live with a hole in their heart?

Living With Holes in the Heart. The outlook for children who have atrial septal defects (ASDs) or ventricular septal defects (VSDs) is excellent. Advances in treatment allow most children who have these heart defects to live normal, active, and productive lives with no decrease in lifespan.

What causes hole in the heart of a newborn baby?

Ventricular septal defects happen during fetal heart development and are present at birth. The heart develops from a large tube, dividing into sections that will eventually become the walls and chambers. If there’s a problem during this process, a hole can form in the ventricular septum.

How common is VSD pregnancy?

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a common type of CHD, with a reported prevalence of 4 per 1000 live births, and it accounts for one-third of all heart defects diagnosed during the first year of postnatal life [1,2].

How do parents deal with Down syndrome?

Do all the run-of-the-mill kid things: Have your child play with other kids who do and don’t have Down syndrome. Keep your expectations high as your child tries and learns new things. Make time to play, read, have fun, and go out together. Support your child in doing day-to-day tasks on their own.