A ventricular septal defect is an opening (hole) between the two bottom chambers (ventricles) of the heart. It may result from a form of congenital heart disease (birth defect) or following a myocardial infarction (heart attack). This opening (hole) is usually closed with a synthetic patch or a portion of pericardium (sac around the heart).

Acknowledgements
Content: Jaelene K. Williams, RN, MS
Medical Illustrations: Kathleen Wagner
Illustrations: Catherine Gendron