VSD (ventricular septal defect) device closure
What is VSD (ventricular septal defect) device closure?
VSD device closure is a minimally invasive procedure used to repair a ventricular septal defect (VSD), a hole in the wall that separates the heart's lower chambers. The procedure involves inserting a small device into the VSD to close it, allowing the heart to pump blood more efficiently.
What happens inside my heart if I have a VSD?
Your heart has four chambers. To pump blood efficiently, the chambers much seal shut. A VSD is a leak that disrupts that efficient pumping ability.
A VSD is a potential problem because it can act as a shunt (a connection) between the heart's two lower chambers, the left ventricle and the right ventricle. Because the pressure in the left ventricle is higher than the pressure in the right ventricle, oxygen-rich blood mixes with oxygen-poor blood in the right ventricle and then goes to the lungs. That leads to extra blood in the lungs which can cause serious problems.
How does this condition affect my body?
VSD doesn't cause symptoms in most cases because the hole isn't large enough to cause problems. However, in cases where the hole is large enough (or if there are multiple holes), it can cause problems with blood leaking between the two chambers instead of circulating through the heart in the correct order.
That leaking makes your heart's pumping efforts less efficient, though if the leak is smaller, it may not be enough to cause any symptoms or problems. However, your heart needs to pump harder to compensate for the reduced blood flow when the leak is larger. When your heart works harder like that long-term, it can cause symptoms and problems in the heart and lungs that may become severe.
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