Faculty Collaboration Database

Ventricular septal defect and aortic valve regurgitation: pathophysiology and indications for surgery. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Pediatr Card Surg Annu 2006:147-52

Date

04/28/2006

Pubmed ID

16638560

DOI

10.1053/j.pcsu.2006.02.020

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-33645945599   38 Citations

Abstract

As the velocity of a fluid increases a low-pressure zone is created, this is the Venturi effect and it explains the pathogenesis of aortic valve prolapse (AVP) and aortic insufficiency (AI) that is observed in a subset of patients with a ventricular septal defect (VSD). The VSDs complicated by AI are restrictive with high velocity shunting through the VSD, creating a low-pressure zone that impacts the adjacent aortic valve cusp resulting in AVP and subsequent AI. AVP and AI are therefore acquired lesions. AI is absent at birth because the forces necessary to create the low-pressure zone within the restrictive VSD do not exist in utero. The risk of development of AI increases during childhood, peaking at 5 to 10 years of age. VSD closure eliminates the low-pressure zone that is the cause of ongoing aortic valve cusp deformity and, if performed early, prevents development of AI. Patients with a subarterial VSD and AVP should undergo surgery to prevent the development of AI because this complicates about half of subarterial VSDs with AVP and spontaneous closure is rare. Patients with perimembranous VSDs with AVP should be followed with serial echocardiography and undergo VSD closure if more than trivial AI develops.

Author List

Tweddell JS, Pelech AN, Frommelt PC

Author

Peter C. Frommelt MD Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Aortic Valve Insufficiency
Aortic Valve Prolapse
Biomechanical Phenomena
Cardiac Surgical Procedures
Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular
Hemodynamics
Humans
Patient Selection