Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) Surgery - Overview

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) is a congenital heart problem where there is a hole created in the walls that divide the lower chambers of the heart commonly known as a hole in the heart. A VSD surgery is performed to treat this defect in one of the following ways:

Intra-Cardiac Technique – This type of technique is a more common open-heart surgery technique where a machine takes over the functions of the heart and lungs. This type of technique is usually performed along with a cardiopulmonary bypass.

Transcatheter Technique – This technique is comparatively more complicated procedure that involves the use of some surgical instruments that are passed through the catheters and attached to the large blood vessels of the heart.

If you’re considering the option of traveling for a ventricular septal defect treatment in India, we will be happy to help you find the right doctors and answer all your queries.

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) Surgery - Symptoms

VSD is a common defect that is found at birth in newborn or in adults after a surgery or a heart attack. Children suffering from VSD may show symptoms like:

  • A blue color tint to the lips, skin or fingernails
  • Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
  • Poor feeding or poor weight gain
  • Growth failure
  • Fast breathing
  • Progressive aortic insufficiency (a case in which the aorta can’t close effectively)
  • Endocarditis – is inflammation of your heart’s inner lining that is usually caused by bacteria. If the inflammation is caused by infection it is called infective endocarditis. 
  • Pulmonary vascular disease – adverse effects on lung functioning

While most holes might close with time as the children grow up, some others need a VSD heart surgery. Consult our doctors to understand the procedure oand take the right decision at the right time for your loved ones.

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) Surgery - Pre-Procedure

Before the VSD repair surgery, the doctor reviews the entire image studies of the patient to get a clear picture of the defects present in the heart. Also, the surgeon tries to get the CHF under control before the surgery and monitors the overall health and wellbeing of the patient. Since this is an open heart surgery, surgeons will only go ahead with the operation once all the test results are conducive for the surgery.

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) Surgery - During Procedure

A VSD surgery is an open-heart procedure done under a general anesthesia. For an intra-cardiac approach, the process is as follows:

  • Your surgeon will first make an incision in your chest and locate the problem area
  • He then places a special patch that effectively covers the hole in the heart. While your heart will be stopped for this procedure, a heart-lung machine is used to provide support to the patient.
  • In the case of a transcatheter procedure, a catheter is inserted in the body through the groin and guided to the heart’s septum – the wall which divides the left and right chambers.
  • The surgeon uses a device to block the hole that is present in the wall of the heart. Once this is securely placed, the catheter is removed.
  • The surgeon will use techniques like Echocardiography (sound waves to get moving images of the heart), transoesophageal echo (get detailed heart images using high-frequency sound waves) and angiography (using dyes and x-rays to show up the coronary arteries) in order to successfully guide the catheter when it is inside the patient’s body.
  • Based on patient’s tests and overall heart health, your surgeon will determine which of the above two approaches are best for the surgery.

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) Surgery - Post-Procedure

One of the good things about the surgery is the rapid recovery. Normally, the patient is transferred from the cardiac ICU or the paediatric ICU into a regular room within one or two days of the surgery. The patient is given a post-operative drug to bring down the intravascular volume to normal levels. Your surgeon and other doctors will constantly monitor the functioning of the left atrial (one of the 4 heart chambers) and the pulmonary artery (responsible for carrying blood from the heart to the lungs).

The doctor may recommend sedatives to control the blood pressure if the patient is suffering from high blood pressure in the arteries of the lung. Patients are usually given a discharge within 4 to 7 days of the surgery.

Patients can look forward to VSD surgeries for long-term results and infants can fully recover from this within a year or two, giving them a normal and healthy life ahead.

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) Surgery - Risk & Complications

Since children are the major number of patients for this surgery, it can be overwhelming for parents to take the right decision about a hole in heart surgery. However, once you will know all the risks and complications associated with this procedure and talk to cardiac experts, you can be assured that the surgery will help your child live a long and healthy life. Some of the possible risks include:

  • A wound infection near the surgical site
  • Bleeding post-operation
  • A rise in pulmonary hypertension
  • Injury in the aortic, pulmonary or tricuspid valve
  • About 1% of children who go through this treatment for VSD might face heart blockage.

More Info 

The approx. cost would be $6,500 – $ 11,000 and approx. duration will be 7-14 days based on the city and hospital you choose. However, the cost of the surgery is 1/4th in India compared to the US or the UK, making it a much affordable procedure here. Plus, you can get access to the best doctors, premium care and state-of-the-art hospitals in the country. India has now become a preferred medical tourism destination for many cardiac problems as it offers low-cost treatment solutions for international patients. If you have any further questions regarding VSD treatments, please feel free to contact us.

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