Ventricular septal defect, or VSD, is a hole in the wall or septum that separates the right and left lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart. This defect causes blood from the higher pressure left ventricle to be pushed into the right ventricle of the heart. This adds to the volume of blood in the heart and causes both ventricles and the pulmonary artery to become larger. If the defect is large, there will be abnormally high blood pressures in the right ventricle and the pulmonary arteries.
Most VSDs are surgically closed with a patch. This restores normal blood flow and prevents the mixing of blood between the two ventricles.
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