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Pediatric Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

Ventricular Septal Defect diagram

Key Points About Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) in Children

  • A VSD is an opening in the dividing wall between the two lower chambers of the heart.
  • The size of the opening affects how severe your child’s symptoms are.
  • Small VSDs may close on their as your child grows. If your child has a larger VSD, he or she will likely need surgery or a cardiac catheterization to fix it.
  • Most children whose defects close on their own or who have VSD repairs will live normal, healthy lives.
Children's Team

Children's Team

Providers

Yves d'Udekem

Yves d'Udekem

Division Chief, Cardiac Surgery
Co-Director, Children's National Heart Institute
Aybala Tongut

Aybala Tongut

Director, ECMO Program
Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgeon
Our Stories

Our Stories

Gino

Gino's Story

When Dieana was getting her 19-week obstetrical ultrasound, she got some unsettling news about her son, Gino.

Serenity with mom

Serenity's Story

Two-year-old Serenity is a normal toddler with a not-so-normal story. She has a long scar in the middle of her chest (her “boo boo”) that represents the three open heart surgeries she had before her second birthday.

Departments

Departments

Cardiac Imaging

We have expertise in the full spectrum of cardiac imaging, including transesophageal, prenatal, 3-D, intracardiac, and stress echocardiography and cardiac MRI. 

Cardiac Catheterization

We perform hundreds of catheterization procedures every year. We treat children with the most complex heart, blood vessel, and valve conditions. We have one of the highest success rates for cardiac catheterization procedures. Learn more about Cardiac Catheterization.

Cardiac Surgery

Our pediatric heart surgery team performs twice the number of surgeries of any other hospital in the region, with some of the best outcomes in the nation.

Prenatal Cardiology Program

Children diagnosed with heart conditions before they are born receive comprehensive, expert care from our fetal cardiology specialists. Learn more about our Prenatal Cardiology Program.

Children's National Heart Institute

Our expert pediatric heart team, including more than 40 subspecialties, offer advanced heart care and excellent outcomes for thousands of children every year.