Ventricular Septal Defects - A Review

Types of VSD 

• Membranous - most common type in adults
• Muscular - most common type in children
• Inlet 
• Supracristal

2D Imaging

• Membranous - best seen in parasternal long axis
• Muscular - 4 chamber view
• Inlet - 4 chamber view
• Supracristal - short axis view at level of LVOT

With VSD and left to right shunt

• Left ventricle and atrium are dilated due to volume overload, LV function normal
• Right ventricle is normal (can be dilated when Eisenmenger’s occur)

Color and velocity doppler

• Pulse wave, color doppler and continuous wave are all excellent and provide a good assessment of the defect
• It is not essential to measure the pulmonary:systemic shunt ratio, especially if the defect is clearly visible