Application of WeChat Platform in Midterm Clinical Follow-Up of Children Who Underwent Transthoracic Device Closure of VSD.

Wen-Peng Xie,Zeng-Chun Wang,Yu-Qing Lei,Hua Cao,Jian-Feng Liu,Qiang Chen

doi:10.21470/1678-9741-2020-0376

Abstract

IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and superiority of using the WeChat platform for midterm clinical follow-up of children who underwent transthoracic device closure for ventricular septal defects (VSDs).MethodsNinety children with VSDs who underwent transthoracic device closure were divided into a WeChat follow-up group (WFU group) and an outpatient follow-up group (OFU group). The patients were followed up via WeChat or at an outpatient clinic three months and one year after discharge. The incidences of adverse events, associated complications, costs and time spent, loss to follow-up rate, medication adherence, and overall satisfaction were recorded.ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse events or postoperative complications between the two groups. Also, the loss to follow-up rate was similar between them. Compared with the OFU group, there were significant statistical advantages in the WFU group regarding the total time and cost spent, medication adherence, and satisfaction.ConclusionThe use of the WeChat platform in midterm clinical follow-up of children who underwent transthoracic device closure for VSDs has the advantages of reducing financial and time burdens, facilitating high medication adherence, and leading to high satisfaction.

Highlights

The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and superiority of using the WeChat platform for midterm clinical follow-up of children who underwent transthoracic device closure for ventricular septal defects (VSDs)
From January 2018 to December 2019, 90 children diagnosed with a simple VSD who successfully underwent transthoracic device closure were selected as the research participants
Two patients in the WFU group withdrew from the study: one patient withdrew due to being unwilling continue the WeChat follow-up at five months and the other patient withdrew due to changes in the WeChat account at seven months

Summary

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and superiority of using the WeChat platform for midterm clinical follow-up of children who underwent transthoracic device closure for ventricular septal defects (VSDs). The traditional treatment for VSDs is surgical repair via cardiopulmonary bypass, which has the disadvantages of large surgical trauma, a long recovery time, and scarring[2] Another common treatment is transcatheter device closure of the VSD, which has the advantages of no incision and a fast recovery; radiation exposure is required[3]. Transthoracic device closure has been widely used to treat VSDs in China This technique combines the advantages of the two treatments abovementioned, such as a fast recovery, no radiation exposure, and small wounds[4], but the following complications still exist: 1. With the increased detection rate and operation volume among children with congenital heart disease in China, the relative lack of medical resources and the inconvenience of transportation will affect the treatment

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