Echocardiographic assessment of ventricular septal defects

Abstract

A ventricular septal defect (VSD) is one of the most common congenital cardiac lesions. Echocardiography is the primary mode for evaluation of ventricular septal defects. Echocardiographic evaluations of ventricular septal defects are easily reproducible, can be done in a timely fashion, and do not require a complex set up. They give detailed information needed for the diagnosis, treatment and long term follow up. Although diagnosis can now be made prenatally, a more detailed evaluation with confirmation of the diagnosis is not made until after birth with transthoracic echocardiography. With a combination of 2D, color Doppler and spectral Doppler, the VSD location, size, and hemodynamic components can be established. Additionally, sequelae from the VSD and other associated congenital cardiac lesions can also be identified. A review of the standard components of a thorough transthoracic echocardiogram to evaluate the different types of ventricular septal defects will be discussed in this article.