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CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE

VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECT (VSD)

A ventricular septal defect (VSD) is an opening between the two lower chambers of the heart. This opening allows oxygen-rich blood to mix with oxygen-poor blood, creating extra work for the heart.

  • Congenital heart defects occur in about 7.5% of live births.1 Of these, 20% are VSDs, making them one of the most common congenital cardiac malformations.2
  • Muscular VSDs account for 10% of all VSDs.3

Download the VSD patient guide to learn more about ventricular septal defect (VSD) treatment options.

HOW VSD AFFECTS YOUR
BLOOD FLOW

The heart is a pump with four chambers: two small upper chambers called the atria (you have a right and a left atrium) and two larger, more powerful pumping chambers called ventricles (again you have a right and a left ventricle). A healthy heart pumps blood through the body and is controlled by a unique electrical system imbedded within the heart itself.

Typically, oxygen-poor blood flows from the body into the heart through the right atrium and then fills the right ventricle. When the heart beats, this blood is pumped through the pulmonary artery out to the lungs to be filtered and receive oxygen. From the lungs, the now oxygen-rich blood enters the heart through the left atrium. It then fills the left ventricle and is pumped through the aorta out to the body to provide oxygen to all the organs and cells. After it circulates throughout the body it becomes oxygen-poor and returns to the heart.

A VSD is an abnormal opening in the wall between the ventricles. Because there is more pressure in the left ventricle, the oxygen-rich blood flows back into the right ventricle and mixes with oxygen-poor blood. This blood then re-circulates through the lungs and back to the heart causing the heart to overwork. Because some oxygen-rich blood flows through the VSD, less oxygen-rich blood is available to be pumped to the body.

how VSD affects blood flow

VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECT
SYMPTOMS

Severity of ventricular septal defect symptoms often depends on the size of the hole. While small VSDs can sometimes cause no symptoms, medium to large VSDs can allow more blood to pass through the hole, creating more work for the heart. The increased workload may cause fatigue, high blood pressure, and/or an enlarged heart which can potentially cause permanent damage to the blood vessel walls. In babies, VSDs can result in poor weight gain, poor exercise tolerance, and possibly heart failure.4 Symptoms of ventricular septal defect may include:

Heart Murmur

HEART MURMUR

Difficulty in breathing

DIFFICULTY BREATHING

Shortness of Breath

FAST OR HEAVY BREATHING

Fatigue

FATIGUE WHEN FEEDING (INFANTS)

Poor weight gain

POOR FEEDING AND POOR WEIGHT GAIN (INFANTS)

Sweating or crying while eating

SWEATING WHEN EATING OR CRYING (INFANTS)

VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECT TREATMENT

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a ventricular septal defect (VSD), it’s important to seek timely treatment since the condition can cause serious complications. Your doctor will discuss the best treatment option for you.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

MAT-2304815 v1.0 | Item approved for U.S. use only.

References
  1. Hoffman JI, Kaplan S, Liberthson RR. Prevalence of congenital heart disease. Am Heart J. 2004;147(3):425-39. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2003.05.003
  2. Pedra CA, Pedra SR, Esteves CA, et al. Transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2004;2(2):253-64. doi: 10.1586/14779072.2.2.253
  3. Thanopoulos BD, Karanassios E, Tsaousis G, Papadopoulos GS, Stefanadis C. Catheter closure of congenital/acquired muscular VSDs and perimembranous VSDs using the Amplatzer devices. J Interv Cardiol. 2003;16(5):399-407. doi: 10.1046/j.1540-8183.2003.01007.x
  4. Taylor MD. Muscular ventricular septal defect clinical presentation. Medscape. Accessed March 15, 2023. emedicine.medscape.com/article/899873-clinical. Updated February 8, 2023.
Important Safety Information
  • Amplatzer Muscular VSD Occluder (VSD)

  • WHAT IS THE AMPLATZER™ MUSCULAR VSD
    OCCLUDER APPROVED FOR?
    Available by prescription only.

    The Amplatzer™ Muscular VSD Occluder is a device that is placed in the heart during a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure to close a muscular ventricular septal defect (VSD) in patients who are considered to be at high risk for traditional open-heart surgery.

    WHO SHOULD NOT RECEIVE THE AMPLATZER™ MUSCULAR VSD OCCLUDER?

    Patients who weigh less than 5.2 kg or who have any of the following conditions should not receive the Amplatzer™ Muscular VSD Occluder: VSD that is too close to any of the heart valves; disease affecting the blood vessels within the lungs; VSD that occurs after a heart attack; blood infection; active bacterial infection; unable to take blood-thinning medication.

    WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AMPLATZER™ MUSCULAR VSD OCCLUDER?

    The Muscular VSD Occluder procedure carries risks which include, but are not limited to: air bubble that blocks blood flow in a vessel; allergic reaction to contrast dye, medication, or anesthesia; low number of red blood cells; temporary pause in breathing; loss of regular heart rhythm; absence of a pulse; partial or complete collapse of the lung; infection or inflammation in the heart; blood loss requiring transfusion; weakness, loss of sensation, or loss of movement in the upper arm; heart suddenly stops beating; disease of the heart muscle; chest pain; bluish color to the skin due to a lack of oxygen in the blood; death; obstruction of a blood vessel by all or part of an implanted device that entered the bloodstream; fracture of the device; fever; headache or migraine; disruption of the electrical signal that controls the heartbeat; low blood pressure; heart attack; perforation of a vessel or the heart; blood clot formation over the device or in the heart, leg, or lung; noisy or high-pitched sound with breathing; stroke; narrowing of the area just below the aorta; injury to the incision site; vomiting.

    WHAT ARE THE PRECAUTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AMPLATZER™ MUSCULAR VSD OCCLUDER?

    Patients who are allergic to nickel may have an allergic reaction to this device, especially those with a history of metal allergies. Aspirin or an alternative blood-thinning medication is recommended to be started at least 24 hours before the procedure and to continue for at least 6 months after the procedure.

    Talk to your doctor to learn more about the risks associated with the Amplatzer™ Muscular VSD Occluder.

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MAT-2302755 v6.0  |   Item approved for U.S. use only.

Step 1

To implant the device, your doctor inserts a narrow tube into a vein in your upper leg.

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