What is the outlook for children with ventricular septal defects?
Overall, the outlook for a child with a ventricular septal defect is excellent. As previously described the majority of defects close on their own or are small so that treatment is not needed. Surgical results are also excellent. If the child has only a ventricular septal defect and an otherwise normal heart, the operative mortality approaches 0%. Major complications are rare and include heart block and incomplete closure of the defect. The incidence of major complications is less than 1%.
