A septal defect is a hole in the heart. This is a common birth defect that usually occurs in the wall that separates the heart’s lower chambers. This hole changes the way that blood flows through the heart and to the lungs, which can lead to increased blood pressure in the lungs as well as problems with the function of the heart.
Mild septal defects might not cause patients to exhibit any symptoms. These heart defects can sometimes just be heard during examination with a stethoscope. However, more serious septal defects can lead to the following symptoms:
This condition is caused by a malformation of the heart before birth. There is no clear cause associated with this congenital defect. Genetics and environmental factors could be the root cause of this condition. Very rarely, this kind of heart defect can happen to an adult after specific heart procedures.
The risk factors for septal defect are:
Diagnosis of this condition is usually made by performing an echocardiogram. This takes pictures of the heart when it is pumping and tracks the blood moving through the heart and the valves. An ECG might be performed to record the electrical activity of the heart. A chest X-ray could be taken to look at the condition of the heart and the lungs. The heart will appear enlarged, and the lungs might have extra fluid in them in these patients.
Cardiac catheterization can be used to look at the inside of the heart while it is beating and to investigate the condition of its valves and chambers. For an even better set of pictures of the smaller structures of the heart, cardiac magnetic imaging can also be done. In some cases, CT scans will be used to back up the imaging collected by X-rays.
If the septal defect is small, there might be no need for treatment of the condition. However, children with large septal defects will need medication to help support their health and prevent complications related to the defects. Diuretics are often given to help remove fluid from the lungs, and oxygen might be given to these patients as well.
Surgery can be done to repair the hole in the heart, and this procedure will often be done within the first year of the life of those affected by this genetic defect. If the hole is small, the surgery can usually be done with a catheter procedure. If the hole is quite large, open-heart surgery might be necessary.
It is not possible to prevent this kind of genetic defect in most cases, but there are preventative measures that should be taken for patients who have had surgery to close the hole in their hearts. Prevention of heart infections is critical in these patients, and exercise restrictions are also usually necessary.
Mothers who are thinking about becoming pregnant and have or had a septal defect need to speak with a doctor about the chances that their child could be born with the same congenital problem.