Ventricular septal defect: the clinical spectrum.

Abstract

Ventricular septal defect is the commonest congenital cardiac anomaly in our experience. Thus it was encountered in 40 per cent of the 1439 patients suffering from congenital heart disease seen by, one of us in our clinic It may be isolated, or combined with other malformations such as pulmonary stenosis. The anatomical size, which varies from a pinpoint to almost complete absence of the septum, does not necessarily correlate with the functional size. Because of its site, a large defect may be partially or completely closed by the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve during ventricular systole. Furthermore, if the defect is in the muscular septum, contraction of the septal muscle during systole reduces its size.