Isolated ventricular septal defect in the first year of life

This study was designed to determine the prevalence of isolated ventricular septal defect in neonates and the rates of spontaneous VSD closure in the first year of life. From 10257 neonates, 169 of whom with suspected congenital heart disease were referred for 2D and Color-Doppler Flow imaging: 61 of whom had a isolated VSD (24 membranous, 20 mid muscular, 16 apical muscular VSDs, only 1 endocardial cushion type defect and none of infundibular defect). Spontaneous closure was seen in 9 pz. (37,5%) in the membranous group, in 14 pz. (70%) in the mid muscular group and in 10 pz. (62%) in the apical muscular group by the end of the first year of life. The one patient with endocardial cushion type defect required surgical closure in VI month of life. Rates of spontaneous closure occured most commonly during the first sir months of life in the muscular VSD (78,5%) rather than in the membranous VSD (33,3%) and was observed in 55% of overall VSDs. Surgical closure was required in 3 of 61 patients (49%). We conclude that of isolated VSD is the must common congenital heart defect in the neonates, but the spontaneous closure during the first year of life is high and related to the location of the defect: prognosis appeared much better in the mid muscular septal defect than in the apical or in the membranous septal defect.