Ventricular septal defect (VSD)

• by far and away, the most common congenital heart defect

• types

  • membranous septum defect 90%

  • remainder: muscular septum or subvalvular

• clinical significance is a function of the size and severity of pulmonary stenosis; small VSDs may close spontaneously

VSD diagram

• muscular septum type VSD: LV pumps blood into RV. this must be treated if the defect is big enough

gross specimen: membranous VSD

• defect is right below the aortic valve and just above the muscular septum

• this defect is enormous—they are considered large if they are equal to the size of the aortic valve or bigger

• there are also often effectively treated with devices implanted via catheterization

gross specimen: muscular VSD

• there is a small defect and a large defect in the septum

• not uncommonly, there are multiple defects in muscular type VSDs. in membranous VSDs, however, the defects are usually solitary

Category: Pathology Notes