Ventricular septal defect

Updated: 2024-10-23

Description

A heart condition present at birth in which there's a hole between the lower heart chambers.

Overview

A ventricular septal defect is a heart condition that a person is born with. It's a type of congenital heart defect. Babies born with this condition have a hole in the wall between the heart's lower chambers. The condition causes oxygen-rich blood to mix with oxygen-poor blood.

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on the size of the hole but may include blue or gray skin, lips, and fingernails. Depending on skin color, these changes may be easier or harder to see. Other symptoms are poor eating, fast breathing and getting tired very easily.

Treatments

Some small ventricular septal defects close on their own. If the hole doesn't close on its own, treatment may include medicines to treat symptoms and surgery to plug or patch the hole.