A hole in the wall between the two upper collecting chambers (ASD) or between the two bottom pumping chambers (VSD) can cause problems.

The severity of the symptoms depends on the size and the location of the defect and can range from no symptoms at all to severe heart failure. Heart failure in a baby results in poor feedings and poor weight gain. In older children, heart failure may cause decreased exercise tolerance and shortness of breath.

Depending on their size and location, septal defects may close by themselves. The cardiologist will likely wait a while before recommending surgical treatment to see if that happens naturally.

In cases involving larger holes and severe symptoms, however, treatment with surgery or catheter closure with a device will be needed.

The surgical treatment for ASDs and VSDs is open-heart surgery. The heart is stopped and opened, and the hole is closed with a patch made of a synthetic material like Dacron or a patch of pericardium (the thick sac that surrounds the heart). Complications are minimal and the length of stay in the hospital is about 5 days.

Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

Closure of defects like ASD VSD