Closure of muscular ventricular septal defects through a left ventriculotomy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the results of closure of muscular ventricular septal defects through a left thoracotomy.


METHODS
Records of 23 children operated consecutively between 1972 and 1990 were studied. Age of patients was 2.8 +/- 3 years (2 months-10 years), weight 8.9 +/- 5.7 kg (2.6-22 kg). Ten patients (43%) had undergone one and 4 patients (17%) two previous cardiac operations. Late follow-up was obtained from direct examination of patients or from reports of their referring physicians. Bypass time was 89 +/- 28 min (66-167 min). The aorta was cross-clamped for 44 +/- 15 min (21-66 min). Until 1977 operations were performed with moderate hypothermia and intermittent aortic cross-clamping. After 1978 deep hypothermia (20-25 degrees C) and cold crystalloid cardioplegia was used. Ventricular septal defects not accessible from other approaches were closed through a small fish-mouth incision in the apex of the left ventricle. Patients' data were sampled and stored in a computerised database. Risk factors were evaluated by stepwise logistic regression.


RESULTS
Four patients died in the hospital (17%); two died later. Two required reoperation for residual/recurrent defects. All patients, except two from abroad, were available for follow-up, which ranged from 36 months to 18 years (mean 11.3 years). All were in NYHA class I. Only two risk factors were identified: the number of ventricular septal defects (P < 0.05) and associated atrial septal defect (P < 0.02). Early echocardiographic evaluation showed good LV size and function in all except one patient, who had a perioperative septal infarction. Late echocardiography performed in six patients demonstrated normal LV shortening without evidence of regional wall abnormality.


CONCLUSIONS
Left ventriculotomy is a useful approach for closure of low muscular ventricular septal defects in selected patients.
Wollenek
G
G
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London, UK.
Wyse
R
R
Sullivan
I
I
Elliott
M
M
de Leval
M
M
Stark
J
J
D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate