Ventricular Septal Defect

Ventricular Septal Defect
A ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a hole in the part of the septum that separates the ventricles, the lower chambers of the heart. The hole allows oxygen-rich blood to flow from the left ventricle across the heart into the right ventricle instead of flowing up into the aorta and out to the body as it should.

Cross-Section of a Normal Heart and a Heart With Ventricular Septal Defect




Figure A shows the normal structure and blood flow in the interior of the heart. Figure B shows two common locations for a ventricular septal defect. The defect allows oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle to mix with oxygen-poor blood in the right ventricle.

An infant born with a VSD may have a single hole or more than one hole in the wall that separates the two ventricles. The defect also may occur by itself or with other congenital heart defects.

Doctors classify VSDs based on the:

Size of the defect.
Location of the defect.
Number of defects.
Presence or absence of a ventricular septal aneurysm—a thin flap of tissue on the septum. This tissue is harmless and can help a VSD close on its own.
VSDs can be small or large. A small VSD doesn’t cause problems and may often close on its own. Because small VSDs allow only a small amount of blood to flow between the ventricles, they’re sometimes called restrictive VSDs. Small VSDs don’t cause any symptoms.

Medium VSDs are less likely than small defects to close on their own. They may require surgery to close and may cause symptoms during infancy and childhood.

Large VSDs allow a large amount of blood to flow from the left ventricle to the right ventricle and are sometimes called nonrestrictive VSDs. A large VSD is less likely to close completely on its own, but it may get smaller over time. Large VSDs often cause symptoms in infants and children, and surgery is usually needed to close them.

VSDs are found in different parts of the septum.

Membranous VSDs are located near the heart valves. They can close at any time.
Muscular VSDs are found in the lower part of the septum. They’re surrounded by muscle, and most close on their own during early childhood.
Inlet VSDs are located close to where blood enters the ventricles. They’re less common than membranous and muscular VSDs.
Outlet VSDs are found in the part of the ventricle where the blood leaves the heart. This is the rarest type of VSD.

My Heart Condition

Below is a simple structure of how our hearts works.
As my heart has a hole on the right side, which is the oxygen rich-blood back-flow to the left side.

Read below for the information of my condition.
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A hole in the heart (also called an atrial septal defect (ASD) or ventricular septal defect (VSD)) is a type of simple congenital (kon-JEN-i-tal) heart defect. This is a problem with the heart's structure that's present at birth. Congenital heart defects change the normal flow of blood through the heart.

Your heart has two sides, separated by an inner wall called the septum. With each heartbeat, the right side of the heart receives oxygen-poor blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs. The left side of the heart receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and pumps it to the body. The septum prevents mixing of blood between the two sides of the heart.

Some babies are born with a hole in the upper or lower septum. A hole in the septum between the heart's upper two chambers (the atria, pronounced AY-tree-uh) is an ASD. A hole in the septum between the heart's lower two chambers (the ventricles, pronounced VEN-trih-kuls) is a VSD.

A hole in the septum can allow blood to pass from the left side of the heart to the right side. This means that oxygen-rich blood can mix with oxygen-poor blood, causing the oxygen-rich blood to be pumped to the lungs a second time.

Over the past few decades, the diagnosis and treatment of ASDs and VSDs have greatly improved. As a result, a child with a simple heart defect can grow to adulthood and live a normal, active, and productive life because his or her heart defect closes on its own or has been repaired.

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My appointment supposed to be fixed on the 26th October, but due to I'm currently down with flu and cough, thus the specialist has deferred my heart scan till the 14th November.

Pray hard that the hole has closes up!!!!!

Updates

Hi hi all Friends, Aunties, Uncles....and passerbys

Sorry that lately there's no updates in my blog.
Pls pardon us, as Mum is busy with her daily schedules and her weekends is always away with Daddy & Brother Marvic.

They're going away again this weekend, to Pulau Rawa.....with Aunty Juli & Uncle Ian.

I'm going to stay at Grandma's house with maid......

It's ok,.....when I'm older, I will also get to travel around with Dad & Mum.

Do bear with us for the time being and I shall pester Mum tp update my blog soon.

cheers

3rd Month Vaccin

2nd August 2007.

Mum brought me for my 3rd Month vaccin. (5-in-1)

Well, mum was worried of me getting fever from the jab, thus gave me 1 dose of the paracetomol b4 we head to the clinic.

Today, I weigh at 5.5kg and Dr says I'm in good growth.

Everything's still fine and I still feel ok. But, developed fever in the night!!!!

Maid called Mum and told her my temp and I was immediately given another dose of paracetomol. Good thing, the fever subsides on the next day.

cheers

Heart Screen

Heart Screen on 29th June 2007.

Daddy took some hours off from work and drove us to the clinic.
After a long 2 hours wait at the clinic, it's finally my turn.

Mum carried me and went to the room.

Dr Anthony starts to open the envelope (from Dr Lim) and follow to check on me. Then, he told mum to put on the bed next to the machine. Mum and Dad was beside me and there Dr Anthony starts the heart scan.

After about 15mins, finally can get the result.

ya, there's a small hole on my heart (right side). The hole is about 3mm and Dr Anthony assures Mum & Dad that this is not dangerous and the hole should close up by itself within few months time. However, my next heart scan has been scheduled on Oct.

Mum is worried sick and been praying that the hole closes by itself by the next scan.

2nd Month Vaccination

Mummy brought me for the 2nd Month Jab on 22nd June 2007, Friday.

We went back to Dr Lim's clinic at Mt A.

As usual, mum went to register and maid was carrying me while waiting for my turn. Shortly after, the nurse asked mum to put me down on the weighing machine and yes, I'm now weigh at 4.4kg. That's a good weight gain.

Not too long after that, Dr Lim called us to go into the room. As usual, he does check on me.....making sure i'm not down with jaundice and started listening to my lung, etc etc. After some hearing, he paused and listen with full concentration!

Mum felt unease and worried.

Waited for about 5-10mins, then Dr Lim confirmed and started talking to mum.

He suspect there might have a small hole on my heart cos there's some noise and leaking sound. He refered me to a heart specialist and recommended to go and do a heart screen.

Mum was worried sick!!! Immediately, she picked up her mobile and called daddy, who was overseas. And mum cried!!!!

poor mum....I'll be fine!!! Don't worry!!!

I LOVE YOU MUMMY!!!!

Updates

dear all......sorry that there's no updates lately cos Mum is real busy with her stuffs.....she flew over to Shanghai to meet up with Dad on June........and as Dad's away on business trips, thus Mum has to take care of me and Marven, and she hardly has the time to update my blog.

Stay tune here cos Mum promised to update my blog hopefully over the wkends.
Mum will try to update both mine & Marvic gor-gor's blog.

cheers