Ventricular septal defect - VSD

The ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a hole in the ventricular septum between the two ventricles. As the pressure is higher in the left ventricle, oxygen rich blood flows back into the right ventricle and thereby back into the pulmonary circulation. 

An ventricular septal defect is a congenital heart defect and occurs during the course of embryonic development.

The defect can be treated through open heart surgery. Depending on the size, it is closed by suturing or by a kind of patch. However, a minimally invasive catheter technique is increasingly being used.

In this case, a catheter is inserted into the blood vessels in the inguinal area and advanced into the heart. It is used to inject contrast agent into the left ventricle to make the size of the defect visible. An occluder of the proper size is then advanced to the heart and positioned in the defect. The occluder closes the hole and becomes firmly ingrown over time.

Here you can see how the Nit-Occlud® Lê VSD occluder is put into place.