Ventricular Septal Defect and its Hemodynamic Correlates *

Abstract

METERIAL OF METHODS:

Forty one patients, age 2.2-18 years, who presented at the NICVD during 1980-1982 period were included in the study. (Table I) All of these patients had been studied by cardiac Catheterization. This of necessity invoked patient selection since infants under 2 years of age were not studied. Puomonary blood flow was calculated by assuming oxygen consumption value of 180 ML/min/M2 for all studies. (9). Oxygen content was calculated by multi— plying the oxygen saturation value with 1. 36m1.

RESULTS:

Forty one Patients age 2.2-18 years were .included in the study. seven (17%) had supracristal or sub pulmonary ye iuricular septal defect, (fig 1), four (9.7%) had defect Right ventricular (RV) cine angiogram (lateral view) in a patient with subpulmonarv ventricular septal defect. Ventricular septal defect is locatcd below the pulmonic vlave (Arrow) AP = Pulmonary artery.

DISCUSSION:

Our study and the reported experience shows that defects in ventricular septum can be confidently imaged by 2 dimensional sector scan echocardiography. (11, 12) Our study validates the V.S.D. Size determination by echocardiography by showing that ventricular septal defect diameter determined by echocard iography was Comparable to that determined by axial angiography. That surgery for Large V.S.D. can be undertaken with relative safety after 2 years of age. It is appreciated that earlier closure of V.S.D. may be desirable in some instances and it is expected that with further development of medical, nursing, paramedical and surgical servic,es at the  N.T.C.V.D. This would become feasible in the near future.