inletsventrikelseptumdefekt

Inlet ventricular septal defect is a specific type of ventricular septal defect that occurs in the inlet portion of the ventricular septum, close to the tricuspid and mitral valve annuli. It is one of three main anatomical subtypes of ventricular septal defects, the others being muscular and outlet defects. Inlet defects are associated with abnormalities of the atrioventricular (AV) valves and the mitral and tricuspid valve chords, and they often occur as part of a more complex atrioventricular septal defect.

The defect allows oxygen‑rich blood from the left ventricle to shunt into the right ventricle. The magnitude of the shunt depends on the size of the defect and the relative positions of the AV valve leaflets. Small inlet defects may close spontaneously during infancy, whereas larger defects can produce significant volume overload of the right ventricle and pulmonary circulation, leading to symptoms such as tachypnea, failure to thrive, and exercise intolerance.

Diagnosis is made with echocardiography, which shows the defect and evaluates associated AV valve abnormalities. Cardiac MRI or cardiac catheterisation may be required for detailed assessment of complex lesions. Therapy ranges from conservative management with serial echocardiograms in small, asymptomatic lesions to surgical repair in larger or symptomatic defects. Surgical correction typically involves patch closure of the septal defect with simultaneous repair of the AV valve abnormality if present. Post‑operative outcomes are generally favorable, particularly when surgery is performed before significant pulmonary hypertension develops.

In short, inlet ventricular septal defect is a congenital cardiac lesion characterized by a defect in the inlet region of the ventricular septum often accompanied by atrioventricular valve malformations, requiring early identification and timely surgical management for optimal outcomes.