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Uppu. Vessel Plus 2021;6:21 Vessel Plus
DOI: 10.20517/2574-1209.2021.101

Review Open Access

Chapter: imaging of atrial and ventricular septal

defects

Santosh C. Uppu
Children’s Heart Institute, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
77030, USA.

Correspondence to: Assoc. Prof. Santosh C. Uppu, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine and Radiology Children’s Memorial Hermann
Hospital McGovern Medical School at UT Health Houston, 6410 Fannin Street, Suite 425, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
E-mail: Santosh.C.Uppu@uth.tmc.edu
How to cite this article: Uppu SC. Chapter: imaging of atrial and ventricular septal defects. Vessel Plus 2021;6:21.
https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2574-1209.2021.101
Received: 15 Jul 2021 First Decision: 13 Sep 2021 Revised: 30 Sep 2021 Accepted: 19 Oct 2021 Published: 8 Apr 2022

Academic Editors: P Syamasundar Rao, Francesco Nappi Copy Editor: Yue-Yue Zhang Production Editor: Yue-Yue Zhang

Abstract
Septal defects together account for the majority of the congenital heart defects (CHD); these can occur in isolation
or associated with other CHDs. Hemodynamic manifestations are dependent upon the size, location, and the
number of the defects, along with the associated lesions. For example, atrial septal defects result in the right
ventricular volume overload, whereas the ventricular septal defect (VSD) results in the left heart volume overload.
Knowledge of septal anatomy is crucial to understanding these lesions, their hemodynamic significance, and thus
better plan management, including interventions. Noninvasive imaging of simple septal defects by various
modalities will be reviewed; atrioventricular septal defects, anomalous pulmonary venous connections, patent
ductus arteriosus, and complex cardiac conditions with VSD will not be discussed in this chapter.

Keywords: Atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, echocardiography, cardiac MRI, cardiac CT, congenital
heart defects

INTRODUCTION
Atrial and ventricular septal defects constitute the majority of the congenital heart defects (CHDs); these
can occur in isolation or associated with other CHDs. A recent systematic review has reported the
prevalence of atrial and ventricular septal defects as 0.144 and 0.307 per 100 live births, respectively,

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