When should a Ventricular Septal Defect be repaired?
Again this decision is a very complex one. Factors such as the age of a patient, the size and the location of the VSD, the severity of the lung damage and the severity of the Congestive Heart Failure all must be considered. In small babies with severe heart failure, repair will be recommended immediately. If there is no heart failure, repair may be post-poned until the patient starts showing signs of heart failure. Moderate sized VSDs may be followed and managed medically for a longer period of time. Ventricular Septal Defects that involve the Aortic Valve Leaflets need to be followed closely for signs of valve leakage. If signs of leakage are apparent, the recommendation would be to close the VSD as soon as possible. There comes a point when the degree of Pulmonary Hypertension becomes the deciding factor in the question of whether or not a VSD should be closed. With low to moderately high pulmonary pressures closure would be strongly recommended. If the patient has high pulmonary pre
