Postinfarction ventricular septal defect with pseudoaneurysm repair after failed percutaneous closure

Ventricular septal defect with intramyocardial dissection of the ventricular free wall is a rare complication of myocardial infarction associated with poor prognosis. We describe a patient who developed a ventricular septal defect with intramyocardial dissection of the right ventricular free wall. Initially the patient was successfully stabilized by the placement of a percutaneous closure device. The placement of the device allowed initial hemodynamic recovery of the patient and subsequent definitive surgical repair. This case illustrates the importance of collaboration between interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons in the treatment of complex postinfarction ventricular septal defects.     

Transcatheter closure of post-infarction ventricular septal defect with the Amplatzer Septal Occluder device

There is an 80-90% mortality rate within the first 2 months of the occurrence of a post-infarction ventricular septal defect (VSD) with medical treatment alone. The muscular VSD presents a technical problem for the surgeon. Surgical treatment was unsuccessful in two patients. They were treated successfully using the Amplatzer Septal Occluder, with improvement in their condition.     

Postinfarction ventricular septal perforation; tips of patch closure

There are several techniques, such as patch closure and David procedures, for surgical repair of postinfarction ventricular septal perforation (VSP). In any operation, postoperarive low output syndrome (LOS) and residual shunt are serious problems. We prefer to use patch closure method and we have some tips to prevent LOS and residual shunt. (1) Minimal part of the ventricular septum is resected. 4-0 SH-1 polypropylene mattress sutures reinforced with Teflon pledget are placed away from the edge of VSP. Stunned myocardium around VSP might recover after operation. (2) Sutures are placed about 2 cm inner of a large xeno-pericardial patch. Even if myocardial cutting and left-right shunt flow occurs, an excessive xeno-pericardium, like a skirt, should be caught by the left ventricular pressure. This might cover and close the 'residual shunt'. We applied this technique to 6 VSP patients, and the results were good.     

Use of Amplatzer septal occluder system for atrial septal defect closure

Short-term results of minimally invasive transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect using Amplatzer septal occluder system (AGA Medical Corporation, USA) at 72 patients are analyzed. Technique of surgical procedure is described in detail. Morphometric protocol used for determination of indications and contraindication for endoscopic closure is also described. The causes of impossibility of endovascular procedures are established. The rate of transoccluder blood bypasses in postoperative period is demonstrated.     

Early cardiac perforation after atrial septal defect closure with the Amplatzer septal occluder

We report a case of aortic perforation after transcatheter closure of an atrial septal defect by an Amplatzer septal occluder. During emergency surgery, perforations of the dome of the right atrium and the noncoronary sinus of Valsalva of the aorta were repaired. Atrial septal defect was primarily closed. A short anterosuperior rim should be considered a risk factor for aortic perforation in transcatheter atrial septal defect closure.     

Trans-pulmonary arterial closure of ventricular septal defect.

Fourteen patients ranging in age from 4 months to 28 years underwent closure of a ventricular septal defect (VSD) through the pulmonary valve after pulmonary arteriotomy. In 13 of these the VSD was of the supracristal type and in one patient it was of the bulboventricular type. In all patients, including two infants whose VSD was closed under circulatory arrest, the operative and postoperative courses were uneventful except in one, who needed prolonged respiratory care. Right bundle branch block (RBBB) resulted in four patients, one of whom had a bulboventricular defect. The procedure is technically feasible without difficulty when the VSD is of the supracristal type and when the patient is too small. Trans-pulmonary arterial closure is the method of choice for treating a supracristal VSD, as this procedure leaves no postoperative right ventricular scar. However, the advisability of continuing to use this procedure is to be decided after statistical analysis of the frequency of postoperative RBBB can be made with a larger series of patients.     

Postinfarction ventricular septal defect. An efficacious technique for early surgical repair

Between December 1982 and June 1987, seven consecutive patients (52 to 77 years old) underwent early surgical repair of postinfarction ventricular septal defect. The defect was diagnosed 3 to 10 days after the myocardial infarction. A new repair technique was used which stresses that no part of the infarcted septum be resected. This technique consists of a transinfarction incision in the left ventricle, placement of a fine Dacron fabric patch that covers all the infarcted septum and closes the ventricular septal defect, and placement of a second Dacron fabric patch that reinforces the infarcted anterior wall of the heart and supports the buttressed double suture closure of the left ventriculotomy. One very ill patient of this series died during the operation (mortality rate 14.3%). Three patients required the help of intraaortic balloon counterpulsation postoperatively, and five needed inotropic drug support. None of the patients had excessive bleeding. Two initial patients had a small left-to-right interventricular shunt. Postoperative angiographic studies and Doppler echocardiography confirmed the existence of a nonsignificant residual ventricular septal defect in these two patients and showed good geometry of the left ventricle with no aneurysm formation in all six survivors. This technique seems to be efficacious. It can be expeditiously performed, and the risks of postoperative complications related to the technique appear to be minimal.     

Postinfarction ventricular septal defect in a patient without coronary lesions

A 46-year-old man with polycystic kidney disease was referred to our institution for ventricular septal defect complicating myocardial infarction. Cardiac catheterization disclosed normal coronary arteries and absence of myocardial bridging. None of the more frequent causes of thrombosis were present, and histopathology proved negative for acute myocarditis. The surgical procedure was successful and the 11-month follow-up uneventful.     

Interventricular septal hematoma in ventricular septal defect patch closure

We report a case of interventricular septal hematoma after patch closure of a perimembranous ventricular septal defect in a 4-month-old infant. On postoperative day 1, echocardiography showed a voluminous intramural hematoma causing severe thickening of the ventricular septum. Surgical revision was necessary immediately to drain the hematoma.     

膜周部室间隔缺损的微创封堵术

目的 探讨经胸壁微创室间隔缺损(VSD)封堵术对膜周部室间隔缺损(PVSD)的治疗效果及安全性.方法 2011年1月至12月,治疗129例PVSD患者(儿),男60例,女69例;年龄9个月～57岁.PVSD直径1.4～9.0 mm,均经胸骨中下1/3段3～5 cm正中小切口行微创VSD封堵术.术后密切随访观察,定期复查超声心动图和心电图.结果 114例封堵成功,15例术中转体外循环下行VSD修补术.其中应用等边封堵伞96枚,偏心封堵伞20枚.术后随访期间均无严重并发症发生.结论 经胸壁微创VSD封堵术治疗PVSD的近期治疗效果满意,具有良好的应用前景.目前尚缺乏长期的随访资料,有待进一步的随访观察.     

Early Amplatzer occluder closure of a postinfarct ventricular septal defect as a bridge to surgical procedure

The management of postinfarction ventricular septal defects represents a challenge to both cardiologists and surgeons due to the high morbidity and mortality rate. We report the case of a 79-year-old patient who developed an apical rupture of the ventricular septum, nine days after an anterior myocardial infarction. As the patient was in cardiogenic shock and developed acute pulmonary edema we chose to perform a percutaneous closure of the septal defect using an Amplatzer occluder (AO). Despite the incomplete closure, the placement of the device greatly improved the patient's clinical condition allowing the delay of the surgical procedure, which could be performed ten days later with an excellent result.     

Postinfarction ventricular septal defect repair: retrospective thoughts and historical perspectives

Evolution of surgical techniques for repair of postinfarction ventricular septal rupture initially involved differentiation of these lesions from prior experience with surgical approaches to congenital ventricular septal defects, which were in the main not applicable. Second, understanding of the differing anatomical locations of postinfarction ventricular septal defects required innovation in terms of the location of the cardiotomy and type of repair necessary to achieve a successful result in any given patient. The gradual appreciation of different clinical courses pursued by patients after postinfarction ventricular septal rupture both in terms of location of the defect and the degree of right ventricular functional impairment has led to increased urgency relative to the timing of surgical repair. The incorporation of specific anatomical concepts of surgical repair and better understanding of the time course of physiological deterioration of patients can ultimately lead to an integrated approach aimed toward improved salvage of patients suffering this catastrophic complication of acute myocardial infarction.     

Postinfarction ventricular septal defect: right ventricular approach-the extended "sandwich" patch

We introduce a novel technique of ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure through right ventricular incision and through the VSD. It should provide extended and better-anchored coverage of the VSD margin and create a completely leak-free "sandwich" double patch by using large interrupted horizontal mattress sutures only, with no incision in the left ventricle wall. The patch is sutured better with large transseptal/transmural mattress sutures, minimizing perioperative risk of shunt recurrence. The second patch at the right ventricular side is easily placed. The patch in our method is considerably smaller than in the infarction exclusion technique. This method of VSD repair via right ventricular incision and trans-VSD approach is safe and simple, and it has so far given good, safe, and completely leak-free outcomes.     

Follow-up after surgical closure of congenital ventricular septal defect.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess long-term outcome of children after surgical closure of a ventricular septal defect (VSD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between January 1992 and December 2001 a consecutive series of 188 patients (100 females) were operated for closure of a VSD. Temporary tricuspid valve detachment (TVD) was applied in 46 patients (24%) to enhance exposure of the defect using transatrial approach. Pre-operative baseline characteristics showed that the detached group was younger (0.79+/-1.8 vs 2.1+/-3.5 years, p=0.002) and had a lower weight (6.5+/-6.4 vs 10.0+/-11.0 kg, p=0.009). RESULTS: There was no difference in cross-clamp time (temporary TVD 36.2+/-11.3 vs non-temporary TVD 33.6+/-13.1 min, p=0.228). Postoperative echocardiography showed that 67 patients (36%) had trivial/minimal regurgitation, 10 patients (22%) from the temporary TVD group vs 57 patients (40%) from the non-detached group (p=0.02). There was no tricuspid stenosis. Hospital mortality comprised two patients (1%). One patient died due to a pulmonary hypertensive crisis and one in relation to an acute patch dehiscence for which an emergency reoperation was necessary. At first postoperative echocardiography no shunting was detected in 113 patients, trivial shunting in 73 and significant shunting in none. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that weight at operation was a predictive factor for the occurrence of residual shunting (OR 0.95, C.I. 0.91-0.99). One patient with conduction disturbances needed a permanent DDD-pacemaker. Three patients were lost to follow-up. Mean follow-up time was 2.6 years (range 0.1-9.4). During follow-up no reoperations were necessary for closing a residual VSD. One patient died 7 months postoperative due to a bronchopneumonia. During follow-up in 37 (51%) of the 73 patients the trivial shunting disappeared spontaneously at a median time of 3.9 years. According to actuarial analysis all trivial shunting had disappeared at 8.4 years. CONCLUSION: Trivial residual shunting disappeared spontaneously at a median follow-up time of 3.9 years. During follow-up no patient needed to be reoperated for residual VSD. TVD proved to be a safe method to enhance the exposure of a VSD.     

Transaortic closure of residual intramural ventricular septal defect

BACKGROUND: Residual intramural ventricular septal defect is an unusual cause of left-to-right shunt after biventricular repair of conotruncal anomalies. It results from the insertion of the patch within the trabeculated right ventricular free wall related to the ventriculoinfundibular fold creating a communication through the intertrabeculated spaces to the right ventricular cavity. This complication often leads to unsuccessful reoperations unless the exact mechanism of the shunt has been identified. METHODS AND RESULTS: Five patients presented with residual intramural ventricular septal defects. Three had double outlet right ventricle, one pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect, and one tetralogy of Fallot. One patient was unsuccessfully reoperated on for closure of the residual ventricular septal defect through the right ventricular approach. The surgical treatment, which consisted of patch closure of the residual intramural ventricular septal defect through aortotomy, was successful in 3 patients. In the 2 remaining patients the hemodynamically insignificant residual intramural ventricular septal defect remained untouched. No mortality or morbidity occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Residual intramural ventricular septal defect should be suspected in presence of a residual ventricular septal defect after biventricular repair of conotruncal anomalies. It is not accessible through either atriotomy or right ventriculotomy. The transaortic approach allows an easy treatment of this rare complication.     

Experience with autologous pericardial patch closure of ventricular septal defect

Background Conventionally, Ventricular Septal Defects (VSDs) are repaired with synthetic patch—Dacron (polyethylene terephthalate) or Goretex (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene). Recently, we began using glutaraldehyde—treated autologous pericardial patch to repair VSDs. We review our experience. Material and Method Between July to November 2005, 60 children had their VSDs repaired with glutaraldehyde—treated autologous pericardium. There were 40 males and 20 females, aged between 5 months and 12 years with a median age of 1 year. The diagnosis was isolated VSD in 37 patients, multiple VSD in 3; Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) in 15 and Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV) in 5 patients. The chest was opened by a median sternotomy incision. After establishing cardiopulmonary bypass, a strip of pericardium was harvested from the patient and fixed in 0.6% glutaraldehyde (Polyscientific, Bayshore, NY) for about 20 minutes. It was then washed out with 0.9% saline solution. The defect was repaired with 4/0 or 5/0 prolene suture using a continuous suture technique. Results There was no hospital mortality. Postoperative echocardiogram revealed trivial shunts in 10 patients. Follow up was for 3 to 6 months (mean 2 months). No patient required reoperation for residual VSD. Conclusion Glutaraldehyde—treated autologous pericardium is an excellent material for surgical patch clousre of VSD. It is easily available and does not require sterilization. Further follow-up is required to assess its long term efficacy.