title: Early surgical removal of membranous ventricular septal device might allow recovery of atrio-ventricular block.
abstract: Complete atrio-ventricular heart block is a well-reported complication after percutaneous closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects. The incidence seems to be higher than after surgical closure. Early heart block can be transient and pacemaker implantation is not always required. Late heart block is also described. We describe two patients who both presented with complete atrio-ventricular block 4 days after device insertion. Surgical device removal was followed by a rapid and complete recovery of the atrio-ventricular conduction. Surgical device removal should be considered in cases of subacute heart block, as removal might result in recovery of the atrio-ventricular conduction.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Cardiology, Hôpital la Timone-enfants, AP-HM, Marseille, France. ovaert@pedi.ucl.ac.be
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ovaert
authors.forename: Andreea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dragulescu
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sluysmans
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carminati
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fraisse
mesh_terms: D054537:Atrioventricular Block / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*