Antenatal testing by doing “fetal echocardiogram” can let us know about ventricular septal defect even during pregnancy even before delivery of the child. Fetal echo test also helps in detection of associated heart defects if present like coarctation of aorta etc. By early diagnosis, we can plan place of delivery so that timely initiation of treatment can be given.
After birth of the baby, we can detect VSD usually in first few days of life by hearing abnormal heart sound in the form of murmur (VSD murmur).
After suspecting hole in heart, your pediatrician may refer child to your pediatric cardiologist. Pediatric cardiologist will do clinical examination as well as may conduct few tests for confirming the VSD.
The following tools are used to confirm the diagnosis –
- X-ray of the chest
- Electrocardiogram or ECG
- Confirmatory test is in the form of “Pediatric Echocardiogram”:this is done from the child’s chest of the baby. It is a safe and non-invasive test which have no effect on the baby.
- Sometimes, we need to do Cardiac cath Study by angiography for assessing whether child still be treated or not if child presented late with large VSD.
Dr Gaurav Agrawal is a Pediatric Cardiologist (Child and Fetal heart Specialist). Dr Agrawal is a pediatrician who has specialized training in the treatment of various child heart related problems (neonates to 18 years of age). He is also having a vast experience in fetal echocardiography.
He is one of the very few pediatricians in India who practices pediatric cardiology exclusively. Cardiac problems in children are common in children, sometimes life threating and often not diagnosed properly. Early diagnosis and timely treatment is very important. Areas of specific interest include child echocardiography including fetal echocardiography, diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac catheterization (pediatric cardiac holes closure by device, opening of obstructed cardiac valves by balloons etc).