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General
Ventricular
Septal Defect is the most common type of congenital heart disease in
infancy and childhood and accounts for about 25% of all congential heart
disease. The classic holosystolic murmur of VSD is loud and easily
detected. Commonly, murmurs are detected during the initial clinical
investigations the first week after birth. As septal closure is a natural
and necessary process to allow for the lungs to function, and most will
close within the first year after birth. About 40% of children considered
to have VSD at birth, will have spontaneous closure by the age of three.
VSD’s are classified as small, medium and large. Small defects may
produce no symptoms and the patient may lead a normal life. Medium and
large defects will cause insufficient oxygenation of the blood and
possibly left heart failure. Surgical repair is then considered.
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