In a child diagnosed with VSD, what is the direction of blood flow through the heart?

In a child diagnosed with a ventricular septal defect (VSD), the blood flow primarily occurs from the left ventricle to the right ventricle. This is due to the difference in pressure between the two ventricles; the left ventricle generates higher pressure to pump oxygenated blood to the body, while the right ventricle has lower pressure as it sends deoxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation.

The presence of a VSD creates an abnormal opening in the septum between the two ventricles, allowing oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle to shunt into the right ventricle instead of flowing to the systemic circulation. This left-to-right shunt leads to increased blood flow to the lungs, which can cause congestive heart failure and other complications over time if left untreated. Understanding this flow pattern is crucial in managing children with VSD, as it directly impacts their symptoms, treatment planning, and long-term health outcomes.