Surgical Treatment of Ventricular Septal Defects with Moderate or Severe Pulmonary Hypertension: A Report of 108 Cases

Abstract

Objective:To explore the surgical treatment of ventricular septal defects(VSD) with moderate or severe pulmonary hypertension. Methods:The open heart operation for closure of VSD was performed on 108 infants.Their ages were 24.5±16.8 months and weight was 11.4±6.8 kg.The types of VSD were subarterial in 32 infants and perimembranous in 76.According to informations from echocardiography,47 cases were associated with moderate pulmonary hypertension and the other 61 with severe pulmonary hypertension.Incisions were made on pulmonary artery(32),right atrium(54),right ventricle(18)and on both right atrium and right ventricle (4).Results:No perioperative death occurred.All patients were weaned from mechanical ventilation in 4～36 hours.Main complications were right pneumothorax in 2 infants and left pulmonary atelectasis in 5.Conclusions:Proper perioperative management is very important to the surgical treatment for VSD with moderate or severe pulmonary hypertension in infancy. Key words: Ventricular septal defect; Pulmonary wedge pressure; Aortic valve insufficiency