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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure
Published on: February 8, 2022
[Follow-up of longstanding ventricular septal defects]
A Ibáñez Fernández1, J J Díez Tomás, J Barreiro Daviña
1Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
Insights
Ventricular septal defect (VSD) prognosis is generally good, with many defects showing spontaneous closure. This study informs pediatricians about VSD outcomes and management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pediatrics
- Congenital Heart Disease
Context:
- Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most common congenital heart defect.
- Accurate prognosis and management are crucial for affected infants.
- General pediatricians require clear guidance on VSD follow-up.
Purpose:
- To describe the prognosis of ventricular septal defects.
- To inform general pediatricians about VSD outcomes.
- To review follow-up data for 81 VSD patients.
Summary:
- The study reviewed 81 VSD cases, excluding those with spontaneous closure within 12 months or complex conditions.
- Perimembranous VSDs were most common (66.7%), followed by muscular (29.6%).
- Most VSDs showed a tendency towards spontaneous closure or improvement, with surgical intervention needed in only 9.8%.
Impact:
- Highlights the generally favorable prognosis of VSD.
- Supports conservative management for many VSD cases.
- Provides evidence-based information for pediatricians managing VSDs.
Objective:
Ventricular septal defect is the most frequently diagnosed congenital heart defect. The prognosis is usually good. The aim of this study was to describe this idea to general pediatricians.
Material And Methods:
We review the follow-up of 81 patients with ventricular septal defect. Defects that spontaneously closed in the first 12 months of life and those that formed part of a malformative syndrome or a complex congenital heart defect were excluded.
Results:
Localization was perimembranous, including all defects affecting mainly the septal membrane independent of whether the surrounding tissues were involved, in 66.7 %, muscular in 29.6 % and mixed in 3.7 %. Perimembranous position was more frequent among large and medium-sized defects. Large and perimembranous defects were characterized by holosystolic murmur; in small, muscular defects, murmur was cut off in mid-systole. In 45.8 % of large defects, weight development was delayed, but there was no appreciable effect on height. Generally we observed a tendency to partial closure and to improvement. Surgical closure was required in 9.8 %.
Conclusions:
Because of the trend to partial or complete spontaneous closure, the prognosis of ventricular septal defect is generally good.
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