[Surgical indications and results in 50 cases of isolated ventricular septal defects during the first year of life].
Surgical indications of isolated ventricular septal defects (VSD) with large shunts are a common problem in paediatric cardiology. The present study was undertaken retrospectively and continuously over 5 years in 50 patients in whom the age of diagnosis varied from birth to 1 year. The surgical results are presented and the clinical and paraclinical parameters used for determining the surgical indications are reviewed. Only 16 out of 50 children (32%) were operated without catheter study. However, since February 1992, when colour Doppler echocardiography became a routine investigation in the department, 75% of children have been operated on echocardiographic data alone. Knowing that the risk of pulmonary vascular disease is practically nil in this condition at this age, the most important problem lies in distinguishing between single and multiple VSDs. Until recently, angiography has always been the reference investigation. In this series, it did not appear to be superior to a good colour Doppler study. The surgical results showed a hospital mortality of 4%, the persistence of a well tolerated VSD in 16% of cases, none of which required reoperation. Two cases of complete atrioventricular block required permanent cardiac pacing. The authors conclude that when echocardiography provides all the necessary data concerning site, number, size and haemodynamic consequences of VSD, catheterisation may be dispensed with at this age. The surgical indication is, generally, closure of the VSD by a patch, usually possible by a right atrial approach; pulmonary artery banding is an exceptional necessity in infants with a precarious haemodynamic status and/or with multiple apical VSD.
Service de cardiologie pédiatrique, hôpital Robert-Debré, Paris.
J M
JM
Lupoglazoff
S
S
Magnier
B
B
Olivier
A
A
Casasoprana
D000790:Angiocardiography; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
Indications et résultats opératoires de 50 communications interventriculaires isolées, mal tolérées, dans la première année de vie.