Radial incision for ventricular septal defect with membranous septal aneurysm

Temporary Tricuspid Valve Detachment for Ventricular Septal Defect Closure: Is It Worth Doing It?

<p><b>Background:</b> Tricuspid valve detachment (TVD) may improve the access for closing certain ventricular septal defects (VSDs), but it has some potential risks. We aimed to study the benefits and drawbacks of this technique.</p><p><b>Methods:</b> The midterm outcomes of all 20 patients who underwent a TVD closure for VSD were reviewed and compared with a control group of 15 patients with VSD closure without TVD.</p><p><b>Results:</b> There was no significant residual shunt in either group at the last actuarial follow-up. Tricuspid regurgitation occurred in both groups (45% in the TVD group and 27% in the control group, <i>P</i> = .48). These lesions were considered insignificant in all patients. There were no atrioventricular blocks, and all patients were in sinus rhythm. The cardiopulmonary bypass times were significantly higher in the TVD group than in the control group (91.6 � 17.2 minutes versus 68.3 � 15.7 minutes, <i>P</i> ? .01), as were the aortic cross-clamping times (50.7 � 12.1 minutes versus 35.9 � 14.4 minutes, <i>P</i> ? .01).</p><p><b>Conclusion:</b> Our results, along with results from other series, suggest that TVD can be used effectively and safely for closure of certain VSDs.</p>

Massive interventricular septal aneurysm and stroke in a healthy young patient: guilt by association?

Aneurysm of the membranous interventricular septum is an uncommon cardiac defect that is, on rare occasions, associated with embolic stroke. We describe here the case of an otherwise healthy, 41-year-old man who presented to the hospital with acute-onset confusion and left-sided body weakness attributed to a right middle cerebral artery ischemic stroke. He experienced a nearly complete resolution of deficits following systemic thrombolytic therapy. After an extensive workup, the presumed mechanism of stroke was a thromboembolus that originated in a massive aneurysm of the patient's membranous interventricular septum. Due to a perceived risk of surgical morbidity, the patient was managed conservatively with anticoagulation. He denied further events and reported nearly full function at follow-up.