Ventricular septal defect in the 9th decade

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Congenital Heart Disease
• Geriatric Medicine

Background:

• Congenital ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are common heart abnormalities.
• Large, unoperated VSDs typically present in childhood due to significant hemodynamic impact.
• Isolated VSDs without other cardiac anomalies are less common in older adults.

Observation:

• This report details a case of the oldest patient identified in the literature with a large, isolated, unoperated congenital ventricular septal defect.
• The patient presented with a significant VSD, challenging typical clinical expectations for such defects.
• Clinical evaluation focused on the long-term effects and management strategies for a VSD in an elderly individual.

Findings:

• The natural history of a large, unoperated VSD in an elderly patient is presented.
• Management considerations for this rare presentation are discussed, highlighting the unique challenges.
• This case expands the understanding of VSDs in advanced age.

Implications:

• This case highlights the potential for long-term survival with large, unoperated VSDs.
• It underscores the need for individualized management approaches in geriatric cardiology.
• Further research into the natural history of unoperated VSDs in the elderly is warranted.