Ventricular septal defects

Patient outlook depends on the size of the defect.

Asymptomatic restrictive ventricular septal defect

• This type, found in infants, closes spontaneously in about 50% of cases. Others are likely to remain asymptomatic.

Moderate-sized restrictive defect

• May be asymptomatic on presentation. If left untreated over the long-term, many will develop pulmonary hypertension and later, symptoms of congestive heart failure. If treated with closure, these patients overall have an excellent outcome.

Large-sized non-restrictive defects

• These tend to produce early pulmonary hypertension and early heart failure symptoms requiring early closure. If not closed, patients may develop severe pulmonary hypertension with reversal of blood shunting, resulting in cyanosis and Eisenmenger's syndrome, which is then inoperable and associated with a poor prognosis.