Revelation of an asymptomatic ventricular septal defect in elderly patient before a surgical intervention.

Certain congenital cardiac defects may go undetected for several years due to lack of symptoms and signs. The natural history of ventricular septal defects depends on the size of the defect and on the pulmonary resistance. In adults congenital heart disease, ventricular septal defects represent about 10% of the cases.