Ventricular septal defect (VSD) with graft
Ventricular septal defect (VSD) with graft is a type of heart surgery which is done to correct a hole between the left and right ventricles of the heart.
Some facts about Ventricular septal defect (VSD) with graft:
- Symptoms caused by the VSD can be ease and future symptoms can be prevented by performing Ventricular septal defect (VSD) with graft.
- The heart and lungs don't have to work harder and no repairs are needed for very small holes in the ventricular septum as they may not let much blood pass between the ventricles.
- These small holes usually don't cause any symptoms and sometimes will close up on their own naturally
- Some type of repair is required if your child has a larger VSD.
- Infants and children often have symptoms like breathing faster and harder than normal with larger VSDs.
- Elevated pressure in the blood vessels in the lungs can be a result of large, unrepaired VSD which can lead to decreased oxygen levels in the body.
- Excess bleeding; Infection; Blood clot, which can lead to stroke or other problems; Abnormal heart rhythm, which can rarely cause death; Heart block, which can make a pacemaker necessary and Complications from anesthesia are some of the possible complications that may arise with VSD surgery.
- Specific risk factors may vary depending on age, the size of the defect, and other health problems.
Preparation for Ventricular septal defect (VSD) with graft:
- Your child may need to stop taking some medicine before the surgery.
- Eating or drinking anything after midnight before the day of the surgery is restricted.
- Some additional test such as Chest X-ray, Electrocardiogram, to look at the heart rhythm, Blood tests, to check general health and Echocardiogram, to look at heart anatomy and blood flow through the heart may be performed before the surgery.
Procedure for Ventricular septal defect (VSD) with graft:
- Anesthesia will be given which is usually done through an IV before the surgery starts so that your child will sleep deeply and painlessly during the operation.
- A cut (incision) down the middle of the chest will be made by the surgeon and will separate the breastbone to reach the heart.
- A heart-lung machine will be attached to your child which will act as your child's heart and lungs during the procedure.
- The wall between the septum will be reached by looking through one of the valves of the heart.
- The hole in the ventricle will be closed with a tightly woven patch material.
- The heart-lung machine will be removed once the procedure has been completed.
- The breastbone of your child will be put back together with wires.
- The muscle and the skin will be closed by the surgeon and a bandage will be applied.
- Although surgery is the standard of care, a minimally invasive procedure using cardiac catheterization may be an option to fix the VSD for some children.
- A long, flexible tube (catheter) will be inserted through a blood vessel in the groin instead of open heart surgery in this approach.
- It may lead to faster recovery times than surgery, but may have a higher rate of complication.
