VSD

At RUS's 4 month appointment, his pediatrician heard a heart murmur that was "a little louder than usual" so he referred us to a pediatric cardiologist to have it looked at more carefully. We had the appointment yesterday and it turns out he has a ventricular septal defect (VSD).

Essentially, this is a small hole in between the two ventricles (lower chambers) of the heart. The cardiologist did not seem particularly concerned about it, and said that the hole may close on its own, but that it would not get bigger. If anything it would stay the same size even as RUS's heart grows bigger.

Quoting from the report we received, it says, "RUS has a small, hemodynamically restrictive ventricular septal defect (VSD) but his clinical status is stable and he has been gaining weight nicely. . . . he should be treated as a normal healthy infant from cardiac standpoint."

So, good news in that it's nothing that requires treatment or intervention, although it's always a bit weird to come home with a brochure titled, "If Your Child Has A Congenital Heart Defect." We go back for a follow-up in 3 months and my guess is that they'll keep an eye on it for awhile to see what is happening with it and reevaluate if anything needs to get done later.

In other news, they weighed him at his appointment and he was 25.75" long and 16 lbs 7 oz (!!!)