Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

A physician can diagnose a VSD — especially when they’re moderate- or large-sized — based on a combination of symptoms, a physical exam and imaging tests. A minor VSD may go undetected when the hole is too small to cause signs or symptoms.

A physical exam is one of the most common ways for a doctor to discover a VSD. That’s because a VSD — when it’s large enough —causes a sound called a heart murmur that your doctor can hear when listening to your heart with a stethoscope. It’s even possible to estimate the size of the defect from the sound of a murmur.

What tests will be done to diagnose this condition?

Other tests that help diagnose VSD include the following imaging tests:

• Echocardiogram: This test sends ultra-high-frequency sound waves through your body from a device held against the skin of your chest. Those sound waves create a picture of the inside and outside of the heart. Depending on the size of the VSD and its exact location, it’s likely to be visible on an echocardiogram. This test is also painless and only takes minutes to complete.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): This test uses multiple sensors attached to the skin of your chest to detect the electrical activity of your heart. That activity appears as a wave on a printout or digital display for a healthcare provider to review and interpret. Over time, your heart structure can change because of a VSD. When the structure changes, the electrical pattern also changes. However, this test will often be normal if the VSD isn’t large enough or if the heart hasn’t started to change shape.
• Chest or heart X-ray: When a VSD is large enough, it will cause the structure of your heart to change. That change is visible on certain types of chest or heart X-rays. In some cases, it also involves injecting a substance into the blood that is easily visible on X-rays, which allows healthcare providers to see any unusual blood circulation that indicates a VSD or other problem.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan: This test uses a computer to process X-ray images into a three-dimensional picture of the inside of the heart. Like with a chest or heart X-ray, an injectable substance that’s highly visible on a CT scan may help.
• Cardiac catheterization: This procedure uses a catheter device to look at the heart from the inside. A specialist inserts the device into a major blood vessel, usually one near your upper thigh, and then passes it up to your heart. Once inside your heart, it can help pinpoint the size and location of any problems like a VSD. The most likely reason to use this test is when a healthcare provider suspects blood vessel damage in the lungs.