Which type of ventricular septal defect is most commonly found?

The most commonly found type of ventricular septal defect is the perimembranous ventricular septal defect. This defect is located in the muscular portion of the septum, near the heart valves, particularly the tricuspid and aortic valves. Perimembranous defects can vary in size but are characterized by their positioning; they often occur in a region where the membranous septum meets the muscular septum.

These defects are significant because they can lead to left-to-right shunting of blood, which can increase the workload on the right side of the heart and the lungs. While muscular defects, inlet defects, and supracristal defects are also types of ventricular septal defects, they are less frequently encountered compared to perimembranous defects. Understanding the prevalence and implications of perimembranous ventricular septal defects is important for diagnosis and management in pediatric cardiology.