Intraoperative Device Closure of a Perimembranous Ventricular Septal Defect Using the Right Thoracic Ventricle Approach

Comparison of perventricular and percutaneous ultrasound-guided device closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects

Background

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous device closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects (PmVSD) is a minimally invasive recent treatment approach. Perventricular PmVSD device closure is an emerging radiation-free intervention, yet it comes with certain limitations. No studies compared both of these treatment approaches.

Methods

We performed a retrospective institutional data comparison of percutaneous (PCP Group, n = 138) and perventricular (PVP Group, n = 67) ultrasound-guided device closure procedures in 205 patients with PmVSD between March 2017 and December 2022.

Results

Patients of the PCP and PVP groups had a median age of 4.9 years (IQR, 3.1-14.0) and 5.3 years (IQR, 3.4-13.1) respectively. The median PmVSD diameter in the PCP Group was 4.0 mm (IQR, 3.3-5.3) and 5.2 mm (IQR, 4.0-7.0) in the PVP Group (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference in success rates between the PCP and PVP Groups (intention-to-treat population, 88.4% vs. 92.5%, p = 0.36; as-treated population, 88.4% vs. 89.3%, p = 0.84). 5/8 failed percutaneous cases that were shifted to the perventricular approach were successful. Compared to the PVP Group, patients of the PCP group experienced a significant decrease in ventilation time, drainage volume, and postoperative hospital stay (p < 0.001). The median follow-up period was 24 months (IQR, 6-42) for the PCP group and 61 months (IQR, 53-65) for the PVP group. The overall severe adverse event rate was 0% in the PCP group and 3.0% in the PVP group.

Conclusions

Perventricular and percutaneous ultrasound-guided device closure of PmVSD are both effective and safe treatment options. The percutaneous approach offers less trauma and faster recovery and may be the preferred approach in selected patients.

Asymmetric Occluder Occlusion of Outlet Ventricular Septal Defect Via a Subaxillary Approach

BACKGROUND

Surgical transpleural minimally invasive occlusion of perimembranous and muscular ventral septal defects provides excellent results, but there is limited experience in outlet ventral septal defects (OVSDs) because of the specific anatomy and because OVSDs may occur with aortic valve prolapse.

METHODS

The procedure was performed in 84 children (mean age, 2.5 ± 2.3 years; mean weight, 12.1 ± 10.3 kg) between July 2014 and December 2018 at the Children's Heart Center of Henan Provincial People's Hospital. An approximately 2-cm right subaxillary incision was made, and the right ventricle was punctured under transesophageal echocardiographic guidance. The OVSD was occluded under transesophageal echocardiographic guidance with an asymmetric occluder.

RESULTS

Mean size of the OVSDs and the occluders was 4.6 ± 1.0 and 6.2 ± 1.2 mm, respectively. No patients died and no complications occurred, such as third-degree atrioventricular block, new aortic regurgitation, reoperation, or serious infection. All patients were observed for 32.1 ± 17.1 months. After surgery, there were 4 cases of residual shunt, which resolved spontaneously during follow-up. No complications, such as reoperation, aortic regurgitation, atrioventricular block, or occluder detachment, were observed during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

Occluding OVSDs using an asymmetric occluder through the subaxillary approach was safe and effective, with satisfactory short-term and mid-term results. Further follow-up is required regarding the long-term results.