Ventricular septal defects at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu: a review of echocardiogram records

This research aimed to evaluate the prevalence of ventricular septal defect (VSD) and to determine the age and gender distribution of this defect and its common associated congenital cardiac anomalies among patients referred for echocardiographic examination at the echocardiography laboratory of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. Echocardiogram reports from the 10-year period February 1991–September 2001 were analysed. There were 2486 echocardiogram scans with an additional 334 repeat scans; 593 subjects had congenital anomalies, of which 165 (28%; 98 males and 67 females) had VSDs. The highest prevalence of VSDs (118; 70%) was in children age 0–9 years although VSDs were found in adults aged up to 50 years and above. Persistent ductus arteriosus and atrial septal defect were the commonest associated congenital anomalies. The study has shown that VSD is a relatively common congenital heart disease and that many patients present with VSD in adult life. There is a need for thorough scrutiny to be made for other cardiac anomalies in all patients with VSD, as well as for corrective surgery to be made affordable to those affected by this defect and other associated anomalies.