Residual Ventricular Septal Defect Research Articles

The results of single–stage repair for coarctation with ventricular septal defect in neonates

Background: The association of coarctation of the aorta (CoA) with a ventricular septal defect (VSD) in neonates is seriously who needs to surgery if not control heart failure by medicine in neonates. There are 2 procedures for repair includes: Two-stage repair (the repair coarctation and closure of the concomitant VSD as a secondary procedure), One-stage repair (the repair coarctation and closure of the concomitant VSD). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients (in neonate) undergoing repair of CoA with closure of VSD from 1/2015 to 12/2023. There were sixteens patients who underwent one-stage repair. The mean of age and body’s weight were 21 days (range from 14 days to 29 days) and 3,3 kilograms (range from 2,9 to 3,6). All patients had severe heart failure, lager VSD and gradient through aortic isthmus that was 54 mmHg. Results: The time of cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic clamping and selective cerebral perfusion time were: 126 mins; 87 mins and 18 mins. There were 5 patients with open chest. One patient died at ICU by multiple organ failure and one patient with cerebral haemorrhage. The gradient postopration of aortic arch was 7 mmHg with no residual VSD. During follow-up time 57 months after surgery, there was no late death. The mean gradient of aortic arch was 12 mmHg and one patient with 25 mmHg Conclusion: The results of single–stage repair for coarctation with ventricular septal defect in neonates was good with low re-coarctation.

Anesthesia management of laparoscopic right colectomy in an older patient with postoperative tetralogy of Fallot with residual anomaly

BackgroundDiversity in hemodynamics of adult congenital heart disease necessitates a case-by-case selection of appropriate surgical and anesthetic options. However, previous case reports regarding the management of laparoscopic surgery in adult patients with congenital heart disease are limited.Case presentationA 72-year-old man who underwent a laparoscopic right colectomy for colon cancer had a residual ventricular septal defect and right ventricular outflow tract obstruction despite post-repair of tetralogy of Fallot. Pulmonary hypertension or right ventricular dysfunction was not observed. The preoperative pulmonary to systemic blood flow ratio (Qp/Qs) was 2.3. After positive pressure ventilation and insufflation, the amount of left-to-right ventricular shunting decreased, and the Qp/Qs approached 1.0, as calculated from pulmonary arterial and systemic arterial blood gas analysis.ConclusionsLaparoscopic surgery might be tolerable in patients with tetralogy of Fallot who have preserved the right ventricular function, left-to-right ventricular shunting, and no high pulmonary vascular resistance.

Aortic dilation in adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot: a single-centre study.

Tetralogy of Fallot is the most prevalent cyanotic CHD. With the advent of advanced surgical methods, the majority of tetralogy of Fallot patients reach adulthood. However, many need re-intervention for the residual anomalies including residual right ventricular outflow obstruction, pulmonary regurgitation, residual ventricular septal defects, and progressive aortic dilatation. Aortic dilation could lead to aortic regurgitation or dissection requiring surgical correction. In the current study, we aimed to determine the prevalence and outcomes of aortic root dilatation in adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot in our tertiary care centre. In this retrospective study, 730 consecutive patients with history of repaired tetralogy of Fallot were included. Aortic diameter at the level of annulus, the sinus of Valsalva, sinotubular junction, and the ascending aorta as measured by echocardiography were evaluated. Prevalence of outcomes necessitating re-intervention including aortic regurgitation and dissection were recorded. The mean size of annulus, sinus of Valsalva, sinotubular-junction, and ascending aorta in the latest available echocardiography of patients were 2.4+/-0.4 cm, 3.3+/-0.5 cm, 2.9+/-0.5cm, and 3.2+/-0.5cm, respectively. Prevalence of dilatation of sinus of Valsalva, dilation of Ascending aorta, sinotubular-junction, and aortic annulus was 28.7%, 21%, 8.3%, and 1 %, respectively. Five patients had severe aortic regurgitation (0.6%) and underwent surgical repair. One of these patients presented with acute aortic dissection. Aortic dilation is common in tetralogy of Fallot but prevalence of redo surgery for aortic dilation, regurgitation, and adverse events including acute dissection is low.

Impact of the Tricuspid Valve Detachment Technique on Hard-to-Expose Ventricular Septal Defect Closure

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure is a common procedure in congenital heart surgery. The exposure of VSDs can be challenging, especially in cases involving the tricuspid septal or anterior leaflets, chordae, or subvalvular apparatus. Although tricuspid valve detachment has been suggested to improve surgical visibility, its long-term effects remain unclear. Herein, we investigated the outcomes of VSD closure with or without tricuspid valve detachment and assessed the impact of this technique on postoperative tricuspid valve function and atrioventricular conduction. In total, 175 patients who underwent isolated VSD closure through the right atrium were retrospectively enrolled and divided into 2 groups: the tricuspid valve detachment group (n = 17, 9.7%) and the nontricuspid valve detachment group (n = 158, 90.3%). Patient characteristics were comparable between the two groups, and medical records and echocardiography reports were reviewed for each patient. The primary outcomes were mortality and reoperation, whereas the secondary outcomes included residual VSD, tricuspid valve regurgitation, advanced atrioventricular block, and aortic valve regurgitation. Clinical variables were compared between the two groups. Overall, tricuspid valve detachment did not increase perioperative complications or affect long-term tricuspid valve function. There were no cases of mortality or reoperation in either group. Although the tricuspid valve detachment group had longer bypass and cross-clamp times, this did not significantly affect ventilation or intensive care unit stay duration. Follow-up echocardiography revealed no significant intergroup differences in tricuspid regurgitation, residual shunt, or aortic valve regurgitation. In conclusion, tricuspid valve detachment is a safe and reliable technique for the complete closure of hard-to-expose VSDs without compromising tricuspid valve function. Moreover, it does not increase the risk of adverse events, and its outcomes remain favorable during short- and long-term follow-ups.

Usefulness of perioperative transoesophageal echocardiography during paediatric cardiac surgery

BackgroundPaediatric transoesophageal echocardiography probes allow perioperative evaluation during paediatric congenital heart disease surgery. AimTo assess the usefulness of perioperative transoesophageal echocardiography in evaluating the severity of residual lesions, based on the type of congenital heart disease repaired in paediatric patients. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on paediatric patients who underwent open-heart surgery at our tertiary centre over a four-year period. Perioperative transoesophageal echocardiography studies were performed, and residual lesions were classified as mild, moderate or severe. ResultsOverall, 323 procedures involving 310 patients with a median age of 13.8 (0.07–214.4) months and a median weight of 8.2 (2–96) kg at intervention were enrolled in the study. Twenty-one (6.5%) residual lesions led to immediate reintervention: severe right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (n=12); severe aortic regurgitation (n=3); superior vena cava stenosis (n=2); moderate residual ventricular septal defect (n=2); severe mitral regurgitation (n=1); and severe mitral stenosis (n=1). Three (0.9%) neonates had ventilation difficulties caused by the transoesophageal echocardiography probe having to be removed, but experienced no sequelae. ConclusionPerioperative transoesophageal echocardiography is a safe procedure, providing information on severe residual lesions, leading to the immediate revision of several paediatric congenital heart disease cases.

Percutaneous Closure of Hemodynamically Significant Postoperative Residual Ventricular Septal Defects.

The experience with percutaneous closure of postoperative residual ventricular septal defects (VSDs) is expanding with improved device technology and techniques. To report our experience with percutaneous closure of residual VSDs after cardiac surgeries. Retrospective clinical data review of patients who had percutaneous closure of postoperative residual VSDs at our institution between 2010 and 2022. Patients' demographics, procedural, and follow-up data were looked at. Twelve patients (50% males) with a median age of 9.2years (range 0.9-22) were identified. Baseline surgeries were 8 tetralogy of Fallot corrections, 2 pulmonary bandings for large muscular VSD (mVSD) including 1 coarctation repair, 1 atrioventricular septal defect repair, 1 sub-aortic membrane resection-induced iatrogenic VSD, 1 isolated VSD closure, and 1 additional mVSD. Median duration between baseline surgery and percutaneous VSD closure was 2.2years (range 0.2-8.3). Residual VSD shunting was secondary to surgical patch leakage in 8/12 patients. The median angiographic defect diameter was 6.8mm (range 4.8-14). The defect was balloon-calibrated in 3/12 patients. Defects were tackled retrogradely in 3/9 patients. Amplatzer Membranous VSD occluder (n = 1), Lifetech Multifunctional (n = 5), Membranous (n = 1) and muscular VSD occluders (n = 2) and Occlutech Membranous (n = 1) and Muscular (n = 2) VSD occluders were used. The procedure was successful in 10/12 patients. Two devices embolized to the pulmonary artery and were snare-retrieved. Both patients were referred for surgery. The median follow-up was 1.3years (range 0.1-12). Six-month ultrasound showed one trivial residual shunt and one mild right ventricular outflow obstruction. One patient is receiving targeted therapy for pulmonary hypertension at 2years of follow-up. Transcatheter closure of postoperative residual VSDs is a feasible yet challenging intervention. Procedural complications can be encountered.

Long-Term Results Following Combined Repair of Atrioventricular Septal Defect with Tetralogy of Fallot.

Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) in association with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a rare and complex congenital cardiac malformation. We report our institutional experience and outcomes following surgical correction over a 20-year period. Patients who underwent combined surgical AVSD and TOF correction between October 2001 and February 2020 were included for analysis. All patients underwent primary repair. The study data were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. Primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and long-term freedom from reoperation. During the study period, a total of 10 consecutive patients underwent combined surgical AVSD and TOF correction. Median age at operation was 307days (IQR 228-457) and median weight was 7.7kg (IQR 6.7-9.5). Down Syndrome was present in six of the patients. In-hospital mortality was 0%. One patient required re-exploration due to bleeding. Median follow-up was 11years (IQR 11months -16years). There was one case of reoperation due to significant residual ventricular septal defect after 2 months. None of the patients died during follow-up. Combined primary AVSD and TOF repair can be performed with low early mortality and morbidity, as well as a high long-term freedom from reoperation.

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) closure concomitant With Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG): a rare case

Link of Video Abstract: https://youtu.be/LZnyDExOr9w Background: Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most common congenital cardiac anomaly in children and the second most common in adults. It often coexists with other cardiovascular conditions, including hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), and heart failure. This presents unique challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Case Presentation: We present the case of a 46-year-old woman with a previously undiagnosed VSD complicated by a ventricular septal rupture and prior myocardial infarction. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and VSD repair were performed. Unexpectedly, the VSD turned out to be an atrial septal defect (ASD) of the muscular type. The repair was successful using mattress sutures and a 0.6mm PTFE patch. Two-coronary-artery bypass was also performed. The patient's recovery was uneventful, with no residual VSD. Conclusions: Discovering a large, asymptomatic VSD in an elderly patient is uncommon. Simultaneous repair of VSD and CAD yields favorable surgical outcomes, highlighting the importance of thorough preoperative evaluation in such cases.

Use of glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardial patch in complete atrioventricular septal defect repair.

Synthetic patch materials, such as polytetrafluoroethylene and knitted polyester, are commonly used for the repair of complete atrioventricular septal defects using the double-patch technique. In our study, we investigated the impact of glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardial patch on postoperative atrioventricular valve function. In this retrospective study, patients who underwent repair of complete atrioventricular septal defects using the double-patch technique between January 1, 2018, and May 15, 2023, at our pediatric cardiac center were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups based on the type of patch used for the repair of the ventricular component of the atrioventricular septal defect: autologous pericardial patch (group 1) and polytetrafluoroethylene patch (group 2). Postoperative data of the patients were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-four patients (57.6%) were female, and 25 (42.4%) were male, with a median age of 7 (5-18) months. The median body weight at the time of surgery was 5.5 (4.1-10) kilograms. Down syndrome was present in 45 (76.3%) patients. The autologous pericardium was used for ventricular septal defect closure in 44 (74.6%) patients (Group 1), while polytetrafluoroethylene was used in 15 (25.4%) patients (Group 2). Permanent cardiac pacemaker placement was required in 4 (6.8%) patients due to postoperative atrioventricular block. Hospital mortality was 11.9% (n=7). Among these cases, 4 (6.8%) patients died from low cardiac output syndrome, and 3 (5.1%) patients died from sepsis. Postoperative echocardiographic evaluation revealed insignificant residual ventricular septal defects in 17 (28.8%) patients. No significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of mortality and postoperative atrioventricular valve insufficiency. The median follow-up duration for discharged patients was 5 months (7 days to 3.9 years). Throughout the follow-up period, there were no reoperations due to valve insufficiency or left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium is a safe material that can be confidently used for the repair of the ventricular component of complete atrioventricular septal defects. This patch material does not adversely affect atrioventricular valve function and allows for the successful closure of ventricular septal defects.

Role of ECLS in Managing Post-Myocardial Infarction Ventricular Septal Rupture.

The aim of this study was to analyze outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for ventricular septal rupture (VSR) after myocardial infarction (MI) and the preoperative use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) as a bridge to surgery. We included patients undergoing surgery for VSR from January 2009 until June 2021 from two centers in Germany. Patients were separated into two groups, those with and without ECLS, before surgery. Pre- and intraoperative data, outcome, and survival during follow-up were evaluated. A total of 47 consecutive patients were included. Twenty-five patients were in the ECLS group, and 22 were in the group without ECLS. All the ECLS-group patients were in cardiogenic shock preoperatively. Most patients in the ECLS group were transferred from another hospital [n = 21 (84%) vs. no-ECLS (n = 12 (57.1%), p = 0.05]. We observed a higher number of postoperative bleeding complications favoring the group without ECLS [n = 6 (28.6%) vs. n = 16 (64%), p < 0.05]. There was no significant difference in the persistence of residual ventricular septal defect (VSD) between groups [ECLS n = 4 (16.7%) and no-ECLS n = 3 (13.6%)], p = 1.0. Total in-hospital mortality was 38.3%. There was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality [n = 6 (27.3%) vs. n = 12 (48%), p = 0.11] and survival at last follow-up between the groups (p = 0.50). We detected no statistical difference in the in-hospital and long-term mortality in patients who received ECLS as supportive therapy after MI-induced VSR compared to those without ECLS. ECLS could be an effective procedure applied as a bridge to surgery in patients with VSR and cardiogenic shock.

Hybrid Closure of Postinfarction Apical Ventricular Septal Defect Using Septal Occluder Device and Right Ventricular Free Wall: The Apical BASSINET Concept.

Postinfarction ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a catastrophic complication of myocardial infarction. Surgical repair still has poor outcomes. This report describes clinical outcomes after a novel hybrid transcatheter/surgical repair in patients with apical VSD. Seven patients with postmyocardial infarction apical VSD underwent hybrid transcatheter repair via subxiphoid surgical access. A transcatheter occluder (Amplatzer Septal Occluder) with a trailing premounted suture was deployed through the right ventricular wall and through the ventricular septum into the left ventricular apex. The trailing suture was used to connect an anchor external to the right ventricular wall. Tension on the suture then collapses the right ventricular free wall against the septum and left ventricular occluder, thereby obliterating the VSD. Outcomes were compared with 9 patients who underwent surgical repair using either patch or primary suture closure. All patients had significant left-to-right shunt (Qp:Qs 2.5:1; interquartile range [IQR, 2.1-2.6] hybrid repair versus 2.0:1 [IQR, 2.0-2.5] surgical repair), and elevated right ventricular systolic pressure (62 [IQR, 46-71] versus 49 [IQR, 43-54] mm Hg, respectively). All had severely depressed stroke volume index (22 versus 21 mL/m2) with ≈45% in each group requiring mechanical support preprocedurally. The procedure was done 15 (IQR, 10-50) versus 24 (IQR, 10-134) days postmyocardial infarction, respectively. Both groups of patients underwent repair with technical success and without intraprocedural death. One patient in the hybrid group and 4 in the surgical group developed multiorgan failure. The hybrid group had a higher survival at discharge (86% versus 56%) and at 30 days (71% versus 56%), but similar at 1 year (57% versus 56%). During follow-up, 1 patient in each group required reintervention for residual VSD (hybrid: 9 months versus surgical: 5 days). Early intervention with a hybrid transcatheter/surgical repair may be a viable alternative to traditional surgery for postinfarction apical VSD.

Percutaneous closure of postoperative residual ventricular septal defects, including dehiscence of surgical patches.

Percutaneous closure of residual ventricular septal defects (VSDs) after congenital heart surgery may provide a safer and more efficient alternative to redo surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of transcatheter closure of residual postoperative VSD. This multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted at the tertiary care institutions of King Faisal Specialist Hospital and King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Saudi Arabia, from March 2012 to March 2022. All patients who underwent transcatheter closure of postoperative residual VSD were included. As catheter closure of VSD related to surgical patches is challenging, patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 comprised patients with VSD related to the surgical patches, while Group 2 included residual muscular VSD. Various occluders and approaches were utilized based on the patient's weight and the VSD type, size, and proximity to the cardiac valves. Demographic, echocardiographic, catheterization, and outcome data were collected and analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistics. Thirty-three patients underwent 37 VSD catheter closure procedures. Twenty-two procedures were done to close residual VSD related to the surgical patch, while fifteen were done for additional muscular VSD. The median age of the patients was 3.3 years, and the interquartile range (IQR) ranged between 9 months and 7 years. The median weight was 13.1 kilograms, with an IQR of 5.1 to 16.8 kilograms. The median pulmonary to systemic flow ratio (QP/QS) was 1.6 with an IQR of 1.5 to 2.44; the median systolic pulmonary pressure was 46 mmHg with an IQR of 32 to 54 mmHg. The median procedure duration was 120 minutes, with an IQR of 90 to 160 minutes. Patients in Group 1 were older and had a lower mean pulmonary pressure than Group 2 (P=0.02, P=0.007, respectively). Of the 37 procedures, 35 (94.6%) were done successfully, while two patients had redo surgery due to failed procedures (one had device embolization). Ten successful catheterizations were performed for infants weighing ≤5 kilograms. The functional heart failure class improved significantly after the closure of the residual VSD. There were three documented mortalities, none related to the procedure. No significant difference between patient groups regarding hospital stay or survival (P=0.660, P=0.791, respectively). After congenital heart surgery, transcatheter closure of residual VSD may be a safe and effective alternative to surgical closure. It can be applied to various residual VSD using a variety of occluders with satisfactory results. Moreover, using specific approaches can close residual VSD, even in small infants.

Atrioventricular conduction recovery immediately after the re-operation in a repaired CHD patient.

This is a case of a 2.7-year-old girl with trisomy 21 and double outlet right ventricle who underwent epicardial pacemaker system placement for a surgical atrioventricular block and achieved atrioventricular conduction recovery immediately after residual ventricular septal defect closure. Although ventricular pacing ratio was 100% before re-operation, it declined to approximately 25% on the 6th post-operative day and was <1% 3 years after re-operation.

Transcatheter versus surgical closure of ventricular septal defect: a comparative study

BackgroundIn many countries, surgical closure of ventricular septal defects remains the recommended approach of ventricular septal defect closure. The aim of this study is to compare the safety, efficacy, and clinical effects of surgical versus transcatheter closure of a ventricular septal defect.MethodsWe conducted a comparative randomized study on patients undergoing ventricular septal defect closure. Patients were allocated to undergo either surgical (group I) or catheter (group II) ventricular septal defect closure.ResultsSeventy-two patients were included. Operation success was achieved in 100% of the surgical group versus 33 of 36 patients of the percutaneous group (91.6%) (p value 0.076). There was no significant difference regarding the residual ventricular septal defect. The postoperative echo in group I revealed severe tricuspid regurgitation in one patient (2.7%), and one patient needed a permanent pacemaker. On the other hand, in group II, during the procedure, one patient had severe tricuspid regurge (2.7%). There was a significant difference in the postoperative data favoring group II over group I regarding ventilation duration, intensive care unit stay, total hospital stay, and blood transfusion (P value < 0.001 each).ConclusionBoth transcatheter device closure and surgical repair are effective treatments. In contrast, the psychological profile of the transcatheter device was superior to the surgical repair, especially in terms of avoiding sternotomy scar, blood loss and transfusion, and hospital stay. On the other hand, transcatheter intervention is limited only to the anatomically suitable ventricular septal defects, in addition, surgical backup is a must in case of complicated transcatheter closure, which gives the upper hand to surgery to be the recommended approach for most of the ventricular septal defects.Clinical registration numberNCT05306483 registered 04/05/2022 (retrospectively registered) at ClinicalTrials.gov PRS.Graphical

Ventricular Septal Defect Exposure by Tricuspid Valve Chordal Detachment-A Retrospective Matched Study.

Background: Transatrial approach is the standard method in repairing ventricular septal defects (VSD) in the pediatric population. However, the tricuspid valve (TV) apparatus might obscure the inferior border of the VSD risking the adequacy of repair by leaving residual VSD or heart block. Detachment of the TV chordae has been described as an alternative technique to TV leaflet detachment. The aim of this study is to investigate the safety of such a technique. Methods: Retrospective review of patients who underwent VSD repair between 2015 and 2018. Group A (n = 25) had VSD repair with TV chordae detachment were matched for age and weight to group B (n = 25) without tricuspid chordal or leaflet detachment. Electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram at discharge and at 3 years of follow-up were reviewed to identify new ECG changes, residual VSD, and TV regurgitation. Results: Median ages in groups A and B were 6.13 (IQR 4.33-7.91) and 6.33 (4.77-7.2) months. New onset right bundle branch block (RBBB) was diagnosed at discharge in 28% (n = 7) of group A versus 56% (n = 14) in group B (P = .044), while the incidence dropped to 16% (n = 4) in group A versus 40% (n = 10) in group B (P = .059) in the 3 years follow-up ECG. Echocardiogram at discharge showed moderate tricuspid regurgitation in 16% (n = 4) in group A and 12% (n = 3) in group B (P = .867). Three years of follow-up echocardiography revealed no moderate or severe tricuspid regurgitation and no significant residual VSD in either group. Conclusion: No significant difference in operative time was observed between the two techniques. TV chordal detachment technique reduces the incidence of postoperative RBBB without increasing the incidence of TV regurgitation at discharge.

The V-shaped double-layer patch technique for complete atrioventricular septal defect: A novel surgical technique.

Several surgical techniques for repair of a complete atrioventricular septal defect have been developed. However, the postoperative complications with these methods may lead to reoperation during follow-up. The aim of this report is to share our experience with a modified surgical technique for complete atrioventricular septal defect that has anatomic advantages postoperatively and could reduce the reoperation rate. Twenty-nine patients who underwent repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect using a V-shaped double-layer patch between April 2011 and September 2019 were retrospectively investigated. There were no deaths (0%) and only 1 reoperation (3.4%) in the series. The aortic crossclamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times were 62.7±16.0minutes and 113.9±25.9minutes, respectively. The median follow-up duration was 5.1years. To date, no significant residual ventricular septal defects have been detected and no left ventricular outflow tract obstruction has been seen on echocardiography in any patient. During follow-up, the left atrioventricular valve status was assessed as no incompetence in 9 patients (31.0%), trivial in 18 patients (62.1%), and mild in 2 patients (6.9%). The V-shaped double-layer patch technique is a valuable surgical option for patients with complete atrioventricular septal defects. The midterm results in our series document excellent performance of this technique, which augments the area of the anterior valve of the left atrioventricular valve to make it closer to a normal mitral valve and may also reduce the need for reoperation.

Detecting and Quantifying Residual Intracardiac Shunts Using Oximetric Step-Up Methods: A Prospective Observational Study.

Background & aims Intracardiac shunts are abnormal channels of blood circulation within the heart that develop eitheras an additional blood flow pathway or as a replacement for the normal channels of blood circulation. They are the commonest types of congenital heart defects. Various methods are available in the present times to identify, localize or quantify left-to-right intracardiac shunts. Methods may vary in sensitivity, indicators, or types of equipment available. One such method used in almost all cardiac centers for a long time has been oximetry runto detect step-up differences in oxygen saturation values. In the oximetry runthe main approach to detect and estimate the left-to-right (L-->R) shuntsrequires the oxygen concentration expressed as a proportion of saturation to be evaluated in blood samples which are obtained from the right atrium (RA) and pulmonary artery (PA), respectively. A left-to-right shunt can be considered if there is a significant increase (step-up) in bloodsaturation. A significant step-up is defined as a substantial rise in blood oxygen content or saturation that is higher than normal values. Methods Using a prospective observational design, this article investigates the application of the step-up method in detecting intracardiac shunts. The study was conducted between 2021 and 2022 on 35 pediatric cardiac patients (males/females, 24/11) diagnosed with post-tricuspid shunts. The pulmonary artery and right atrium were sampled before and after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery and analyzed using a blood gas test. As a result, nearly 91% of the patients had a saturation below 8%. However, the difference between PA oxygen saturation (SO2) & RASO2 before and after surgery was significant. As a result, the difference in O2 saturation helped detect the residual ventricular septal defect (VSD) after the surgery. Results There were no deaths or complications in this study. There were no re-interventions for post-tricuspid shunt surgery, though one patient had a step-up of >15% and residual VSD status was moderate to large on two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography. Conclusion A combination of physical findings, chest radiography, electrocardiogram (ECG), and echocardiography is routinely done for all these patients undergoing pediatric cardiac surgery. Echocardiography can detect the occurrence of shunt but does not calculate the shunt ratio. Transesophageal or epicardial echocardiography is the standard of care but has its limitations like perception difference between the operating surgeon and the person performing echocardiography. In this study, we have added an oximetry analysis of blood-gas samples before and after surgery and compared it to 2D echocardiography to test the validation of oximetry in isolation and comparison to 2D echocardiography.

Comparison of Surgical Techniques Used in Ventricular Septal Defect Closure.

We compared transatrial closure, tricuspid valve septal detachment, and tricuspid valve chordal detachment techniques for ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure. Patients who had VSD closure with three different techniques in our clinic between September 2016 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 117 patients were included in the study. The patients were divided into three groups: group 1, classical transatrial closure; group 2, closure with tricuspid valve septal detachment; and group 3, closure with tricuspid valve chordal detachment. The groups were evaluated by serial transthoracic echocardiography (preoperative, postoperative 1st day, postoperative 1st month). Cardiac rhythm checks and recordings were performed. No residual VSD was observed in early or late periods in any of the groups whose VSD closure was performed with the three different techniques. No severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) was detected during the early and late postoperative periods of all operating procedures. When the groups were compared in terms of early/late TR after the operation (without TR+trace amount of TR and mild TR+moderate TR were compared), no statistically significant difference was found (P>0,05; P=0,969 and P>0,05; P=0,502). In this study, we found no statistically significant difference between three VSD closure techniques in terms of early TR, late TR, residual VSD, and permanent atrioventricular complete block during postoperative period. We hope that our results will be supported by the results of researches that are being made about this subject in large series.

One-stage neonatal Yasui procedure: Presentation of our surgical experience and a new decision-making algorithm

ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to present our experience with three patients who underwent a neonatal Yasui procedure, and to show the new decision-making algorithm. MethodsThis is a series of three neonates operated on at our hospital between 2017 and 2022. ResultsAll the patients underwent a primary Yasui. The duration of cardiopulmonary bypass was 275, 249 and 391min, in patient 1, 2 and 3, respectively. After surgery, the Intensive Care Unit stay of patients 1, 2 and 3 was 29, 22 and 24 days, respectively. The patients were discharged in good condition. Subsequent complications during follow-up included the need for percutaneous intervention in patient 1 for the implantation of a stent in the right pulmonary branch (at 6 months postoperatively) and a stent in the right ventricle-pulmonary artery conduit (at 42 months). Patient 2 required right ventricle-pulmonary artery conduit replacement and repair of moderate-severe left ventricular outflow tract obstruction at 16 months postoperatively. Patient 3 needed a reoperation at 3 months postoperatively due to aortic arch stenosis at different levels and a residual ventricular septal defect. Currently, all patients are alive with adequate echocardiographic biventricular function. ConclusionsIn experienced centers, primary Yasui repair can be performed in the neonatal period with satisfactory results.

Early and mid-term outcomes of transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects using the Lifetech™ Konar-MF Occluder device (MFO).

Transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects is challenging. Double disk-designed devices have high adverse event rates; therefore, research into new devices persists. One such devise is the LifetechTM Konar-MF Occluder device (MFO), which is increasingly used. The purpose of this study is to present mid-term results of MFO for transcatheter closure of patients with perimembraneous ventricular septal defect. Records of the 52 patients with perimembraneous ventricular septal defect who had undergone transcatheter closure with MFO were reviewed. Demographic, echocardiographic, and procedure details were investigated. Three years follow-up results were recorded. We closed the perimembraneous ventricular septal defect in 51 of 52 patients (98%). The femoral venous approach was used in 27 patients (53 %) whilst no arteriovenous loop was established in the remaining patients. No significant procedure-related complication occurred. On day 1 echocardiography, the residual ventricular septal defect rate was 31%. Mean±SD (range) follow-up duration was 36 ± 7,9 (18-54) months. In the follow-up, at 6th months, only four patients had hemodynamically insignificant residual defects. No severe dysrhythmia was detected including complete heart block. A right bundle branch block pattern was seen in one patient. This study showed that MFO is a safe and effective device in the transcatheter treatment of perimembraneous ventricular septal defect's with mid-term follow-up.