Etymed
ventricular septal defect
Definition
A congenital heart defect characterized by an abnormal opening in the septum between the ventricles of the heart
Clinical context
A 2-day-old newborn presents with respiratory distress and poor feeding. On examination, a loud pansystolic murmur is heard at the left lower sternal border. Echocardiography reveals an opening in the interventricular septum causing left-to-right shunting. The infant's symptoms are most likely due to a ventricular septal defect.
Mnemonic
VSD = 'Ventricle' 'Septe' 'Defect' - think of the heart chambers and the hole between them
These morphemes also unlock…
- ventricul/o — ventricle
- sept/o — partition
- defect — deficiency; abnormality