Pre- and postoperative arrhythmias in congenital heart disease: from the results of surgery using surface-induced deep hypothermia.

Abstract

The incidence of arrhythmias in 3614 preoperative patients with congenital heart disease was 1.6 per cent. Pre- and postoperative serial ECGs in 186 patients with an isolated VSD and in 58 patients with TOF were reviewed. The incidence of CRBBB and CRBBB-LAH following VSD repair was 33% and 6.6%, respectively, and for TOF was 55% and 5.2%, respectively. Complete A-V block (CAVB) was seen in 2 patients following VSD repair, and none of TOF patients developed CAVB. Late cardiac or dysrrhythmic death was not recognized in our limited follow up period. The indications for surgery in membranous VSD should be determined more carefully, because the risk of the surgical damage to the conduction system is still higher. Moreover, we must keep in mind that damage to the A-V conduction system may occur naturally even in a patient with small VSD. Finally, it can never be overemphasized that physicians must pay attention to the occurrence and course of postoperative arrhythmias.