[Ventricular septal defect of the neonate]

Ventricular septal defect is the commonest congenital cardiac lesion and represents 30-40% of all congenital heart disease with a prevalence of 1.8 to 6.5 per 1000 births. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of neonates with ventricular septal defects and to deduce from the echocardiographic appearances in the first year of life a relationship between the initial anatomy and the outcome. Between January 2001 and July 2003, 89 children from the Auvergne region were followed up prospectively for an average period of 7.6 months. The study showed that the majority of muscular ventricular septal defects with a diameter of 3 mm and less progress to a reduction in size and spontaneous closure more commonly and at an earlier stage than perimembranous ventricular septal defects.