|
Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)
SSRIs :: Paxil :: Celexa® - Lexapro® - Prozac® - Symbyax® - Wellbutrin® - Zoloft® - Effexor®
According to the National Institutes of Health, a Ventricular septal defect describes one or more holes in the wall that separates the right and left ventricles of the heart. Ventricular septal defect is one of the most common congenital (present from birth) heart defects. It may occur by itself or with other congenital diseases.
Before a baby is born, the right and left ventricles of its heart are not separate. As the fetus grows, a wall forms to separate these two ventricles. If the wall does not completely form, a hole remains. This hole is known as a ventricular septal defect, or a VSD.
Ventricular septal defect is one of the most common congenital heart defects. The baby may have no symptoms, and the hole can eventually close as the wall continues to grow after birth. If the hole is large, too much blood will be pumped to the lungs, leading to heart failure.
The cause of VSD is not yet known. This defect often occurs along with other congenital heart defects.
In adults, ventricular septal defects are a rare but serious complication of heart attacks. These holes are related to heart attacks and do not result from a birth defect.
Patients with ventricular septal defects may not have symptoms. However, if the hole is large, symptoms, the baby often has symptoms related to heart failure. The most common symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Fast breathing
- Hard breathing
- Paleness
- Failure to gain weight
- Fast heart rate
- Sweating while feeding
- Frequent respiratory infections
Small to moderate sized defects may produce no symptoms, or not until middle age or later. Symptoms that may occur can include:
- Difficulty breathing (dyspnea)
- Frequent respiratory infections in children
- Sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations) in adults
- Shortness of breath with activity
If the defect is small, no treatment is usually needed. However, the baby should be closely monitored by a health care provider to make sure that the hole eventually closes properly and signs of heart failure do not occur.
Babies with a large VSD who have symptoms related to heart failure may need medicine to control the symptoms and surgery to close the hole. Medications may include digitalis (digoxin) and diuretics. If symptoms continue despite medication, surgery to close the defect with a Gore-tex patch is needed. Some VSDs can be closed with a special device during a cardiac catheterizationcatheterization, although this is infrequently done.
Surgery for a VSD with no symptoms is controversial. This should be carefully discussed with your health care provider. Many small defects will close on their own. For those defects that do not spontaneously close, the outcome is good with surgical repair. Complications may result if a large defect is not treated. Other SSRIs that may be linked to ventricular septal defects include - Celexa® - Lexapro® - Prozac® - Symbyax® - Wellbutrin® - Zoloft® - Effexor®
Please navigate to the links below to find more information on personal injury and what individuals suffering from a personal injury can do to protect their legal rights or contact us.
Top of page or Home page
|