children s health issues
Atrial and Ventricular Septal Defects
Diagnosis of Atrial and Ventricular Septal Defects
Echocardiography Doctors often suspect a septal defect if they hear a certain kind of heart murmur. A heart murmur is a sound created by turbulent blood flow through narrowed or leaking heart valves or through abnormal heart structures. For both atrial and ventricular septal defects, Echocardiography and Other Ultrasound Procedures (ultrasonography of the heart) is done to confirm the diagnosis and determine the size and location of the defect and any associated enlargement of heart chambers. Echocardiography also shows if other heart defects are present. Electrocardiography (ECG) is typically done, even in infants. ECG may show signs that one or more heart chambers are enlarged. Chest x-rays may show an enlarged heart. 