胸腔镜下室缺修补术的麻醉

胸腔镜下完成室间隔缺损修补术的全部心内操作 ,胸部切口小 ,术后康复快 ,易为患者所接受。常规间歇正压通气(ＩＰＰＶ) ,因肺动度过大严重影响胸腔镜下的手术视野 ,干扰手术操作。合理进行术中通气并减小对手术视野的影响 ,是此类手术麻醉的关键。本文比较胸腔镜下室缺修补术和开胸室缺修补术的麻醉处理。资料与方法一般资料　胸腔镜下室缺修补术 2 7例 (胸腔镜组 ,Ｖ组 ) ,ＡＳＡⅡ～Ⅲ级室间隔缺损患者 2 7例 ,男 17例 ,女 10例 ,年龄 5～ 2 7(14± 7)岁 ,体重 15～ 6 7(38 5± 16 8)ｋｇ。同期接受开胸室缺修补术病人 2 0例 (开胸组 ,…     

室间隔缺损修补术后残余漏16例

先天性室间隔缺损 (ＶＳＤ)修补后常发生残余漏。 1 982年1月至 2 0 0 0年 1月我们共为 1 6例ＶＳＤ修补术后发生残余漏者再次手术 ,现就ＶＳＤ残余漏的预防和处理讨论如下。临床资料　 1 6例中男 1 1例 ,女 5例。年龄 3～ 2 5岁。均为先天性膜周部ＶＳＤ ,其中 5例合并重度肺动脉高压。首次手术修补缺损经右室径路 9例 ,右房径路 5例 ,右房加右室 1例 ,升主动脉根部横切口 1例。直接缝合修补 4例 (缺损直径 <1 0ｃｍ) ;补片修补者 1 2例 (缺损直径 >1 0ｃｍ) ,其中后下缘间断而肌肉缘连续缝合者 9例 ,全部间断缝合者 3例。1例停体外循环…     

食道超声引导下小切口室间隔缺损封堵术的疗效分析

目的评估食道超声引导下小切口室间隔缺损(室缺)封堵术的疗效。方法 2008年10月～2009年6月,45例先天性室间隔缺损患儿,男27例,女18例,平均年龄3.5岁(14个月～11岁),平均体重16.8 kg(9～30 kg)。经胸心脏超声显示室间隔缺损,8例为嵴内型,36例为膜部型(其中6例伴有膜部瘤形成),1例为肌部型。缺损直径3～10 mm,平均4.5mm。气管插管全身麻醉后,经胸骨下段正中切口,长3～5 cm。在食道超声的引导下,经右室游离壁置入腰部直径5～16 mm的国产室缺封堵器。结果 45例均成功封堵,无中转体外循环病例。42例术后无残余分流,3例封堵后即刻超声示少量残余分流,术后5天复查超声示分流消失。2例术后心电图示右束支传导阻滞,无Ⅲ度房室传导阻滞发生,余43例术后心电图无异常改变。术后住院时间3～7 d,平均4.4 d。随诊3～6个月,1例术后1个月大量心包积液,经心包穿刺后痊愈,余44例均恢复良好,无Ⅲ度房室传导阻滞,无残余分流,无封堵器晚期移位,无瓣膜关闭不全加重。结论食道超声引导下小切口室缺封堵术创伤小,安全性高,近期疗效满意。     

室间隔缺损修补术后继发性主动脉瓣下狭窄的单中心回顾性研究

目的 总结室间隔缺损患者术后继发性主动脉瓣下狭窄（secondary subaortic stenosis,SSS）的临床经验，探究其潜在发生机制。方法 纳入2008—2019年在阜外医院行单纯开胸室间隔缺损修补手术，术前无左室流出道梗阻，但术后出现SSS并于阜外医院进行二次手术的0～18岁患者。回顾性收集患者的临床资料，分析室间隔缺损修补术后出现SSS的形态学特征、再次干预方式及随访结果。结果 共纳入6例患者，其中女2例、男4例。首次室间隔缺损修补手术中位年龄9个月（1个月～3岁）。首次手术后2.9年（1～137个月）患者被诊断为SSS,2例患者在确诊后立即行二次手术，其余4例等待1.2年（6～45个月）后行瓣下狭窄手术治疗。最常见的室间隔缺损外科术后SSS为隔膜型，新生隔膜位于左室流出道并呈环形，小部分沿室间隔补片生长。SSS术后中位随访时间8.1(7.3～8.9)年，所有患儿均未复发左室流出道梗阻。结论 无论是单纯室间隔缺损外科修补还是合并其他心脏畸形的先天性心脏病外科手术，术后长期随访复查、及时干预，都是阻止主动脉瓣反流或左室流出道梗阻进展的最佳方法。     

交叉连锁褥式缝合法修补合并中重度肺动脉高压的巨型室间隔缺损

目的比较交叉连锁褥式缝合法与间断褥式缝合法修补巨型室间隔缺损术后的效果及残余漏发生率。方法回顾性分析2011年2月至2013年4月我院41例巨型室间隔缺损采用交叉连锁褥式缝合法修补术患者的资料。将这41例患者作为交连组,平均年龄(18.7±12.3)岁,男女比例为31:10。按交连组患者相同年龄、室间隔缺损大小及部位、肺动脉压及肺循环阻力共5项指标进行1比1匹配,选择安贞医院心外科同期以间断褥式缝合法修补的巨型室间隔缺损患者41例作为对照组,平均年龄(17.4±11.8)岁,男女比例为31:10,进行回顾性配对对照分析。结果全组无手术死亡,无围术期新发房室传导阻滞发生。围术期经超声检查发现对照组残余漏发生率为31.7%(13/41),交连组为0%(0/41),两组差异有统计学意义(χ2=13.164,P=0.000)。两组患者平均随访(18.2±6.1)个月,随访期内均无死亡,无新房室传导阻滞发生。术后1年两组在纽约心脏病学会心功能分级、经超声心动图检测肺动脉压的差异均无统计学意义。术后12个月复查超声心动图,对照组残余漏发生率为26.8%(11/41),交连组为0%(0/41),两组差异有统计学意义(χ2=10.499,P=0.001)。结论间断褥式缝合法修补合并中、重度肺动脉高压的巨型室间隔缺损术后的残余漏发生率较高,而采用交叉连锁褥式缝合法可有效减少残余漏的发生率。     

改良超滤对婴幼儿先天性心脏病术后肺功能的影响

我们将改良超滤法应用于婴幼儿先天性心脏病 (先心病 )体外循环 ,观测其对术后肺功能的影响 ,现报道如下。临床资料　 1999年 10月至 2 0 0 0年 8月 ,我们连续观测了 30例先心病手术病儿在应用改良超滤前后的肺功能变化。其中男 2 0例 ,女 10例 ;年龄 4个月～ 6岁 ,平均 (1 74±2 18)岁。室间隔缺损 (室缺 )伴肺高压 18例 ,室缺合并动脉导管未闭 6例 ,法洛四联症 4例 ,二尖瓣关闭不全 1例 ,室缺加房间隔缺损 (房缺 ) 1例。手术在全身中度低温 (2 4～ 2 6℃ )体外循环下进行 ,转流 (89 18± 36 91)ｍｉｎ ,主动脉阻断(5 4 2 8± 2 6 0 2 )…     

全胸腔镜下室间隔缺损修补手术单中心临床分析

目的总结全胸腔镜下室间隔缺损修补手术临床经验。方法回顾性分析2008年5月至2018年12月我院449例行全胸腔镜下心脏手术的室间隔缺损患者的临床资料,男232例、女217例,年龄3~55(17.3±11.2)岁。结果449例患者手术时间为1.8~4.0(2.4±0.3)h,体外循环时间42~136(64.2±11.6)min,升主动脉阻断时间17~84(28.4±10.7)min,术后呼吸机辅助时间3~45(6.9±3.8)h,术后住重症监护室时间16~68(20.5±5.6)h,术后胸腔闭式引流量50~1060(213.1±117.2)mL,术后住院时间5~16(6.9±1.3)d。全组患者均治愈出院,无中转正中开胸患者。出现并发症11例(2.4%),包括术中再次手术1例,术后胸腔镜下二次止血3例,切口感染3例,室间隔缺损残余漏2例,股动脉切口狭窄合并血栓栓塞1例,右侧气胸1例。患者术后随访1~128(72.2±33.9)个月,无再次手术患者,室间隔缺损残余漏2例,二尖瓣及主动脉瓣轻中度关闭不全各1例,心功能明显好转。结论全胸腔镜下室间隔缺损修补手术具有并发症少、术后恢复快及安全可靠等优势,近中期疗效良好。     

室间隔缺损术后残余漏的防治

目的：探讨室间隔缺损修补术后残余漏的原因，提出防治方法。方法：总结了室间隔缺损残余漏１８例，其中单室间隔缺损术后残余漏１２例，法乐氏四联症术后残余漏６例，均行二次心脏手术治疗。结果：二次心脏手术后，单纯室间隔缺损残余漏１２例，治愈１０例，死亡２例。法乐氏四联症术后残余漏６例，治愈４例，死亡２例。结论：手术技术不当、遗漏室间隔缺损是造成残余漏的主要原因。提高修补技术，术中探查室间隔缺损，掌握适当再手     

外科治疗主动脉窦瘤70例的远期疗效分析

目的　总结 70例主动脉窦瘤的外科治疗经验。方法　 1988年 9月～ 2 0 0 3年 10月收治主动脉窦瘤患者 70例 ,占同期所有体外循环手术病例的 1 4 % ( 70 /496 0 ) ,其中男性 4 5例 ,女性 2 5例 ,年龄 3～ 6 9岁 [平均 ( 2 9± 15 )岁 ]。窦瘤突入右心室 4 6例、右心房 2 3例、左心室 1例。起源于右冠状动脉窦者 6 1例 ( 87% ) ,无冠状动脉窦者 9例 ( 13% )。最常见的合并畸形为室间隔缺损 ( 34例 )和主动脉瓣关闭不全 ( 2 1例 )。手术采用单一右心房、右心室或主动脉切口或主动脉切口与右心房、右心室联合切口 ,直接缝合 ( 4 3例 )和补片修补 ( 2 7例 )闭合主动脉窦部缺损 ,术中行主动脉瓣置换术6例。结果　无术后早期死亡。 1997年以前术后住院天数为 8～ 33d[平均 ( 14 3± 6 4 )d],1997年以后术后住院天数为 6～ 15d[平均 ( 9 1± 2 6 )d]。术后并发切口感染 4例、出血 3例、气胸 1例、心律失常 4例和室间隔缺损修补术后残余漏 1例。随访 5 3例 ( 76 % ) ,随访时间 2个月～ 13年 [平均( 6 6± 3 8)年 ],除 1例术后 7年死于主动脉夹层破裂外 ,全部存活 ,心功能为NYHA分级Ⅰ～Ⅲ级 ;合并主动脉瓣关闭不全者 ( 15例 )较未合并主动脉瓣关闭不全者 ( 38例 )心功能差 ( χ2 =8 30 ,P <0 0 1) ,主动脉窦     

心内直视杂交封堵肌部多发室间隔缺损

目的总结心内直视杂交封堵肌部多发室间隔缺损（室缺）的经验。方法 2006年4月～2009年12月,行21例心内直视杂交封堵肌部多发室间隔缺损术。男15例,女6例。3例年龄分别为4、7和15岁;余18例平均手术年龄8个月（2～11个月）,平均体重5.8 kg（4～8 kg）。19例伴心内外畸形,包括膜周室缺、肌部流入道室缺、肺动脉瓣下室缺、房间隔缺损、动脉导管未闭、二尖瓣反流、主动脉缩窄、三尖瓣反流、冠状动脉畸形和先天性房室传导阻滞等。心内直视杂交封堵解剖纠治方法：主动脉及上下腔静脉插管,浅低温体外循环（肛温32～34℃）,阻断主动脉,右心房切口,经由房间隔径路探及肌部室间隔缺损,经缺损右室面过导引钢丝及鞘管,导入封堵器行肌部室缺封堵器封堵。伴心内畸形者,行同期纠治。结果手术无死亡,食道彩超无影响心功能的明显残余分流。1例术后发生肺动脉高压危象,术后3天延迟关胸。术后随访6个月～3年,无死亡,2例术后心尖部小缺损开放,7例封堵器边缘残留少量左向右分流。全组左心室射血分数0.64±0.04,左心室缩短率35%±4%,心功能正常。结论心内直视杂交封堵肌部多发室间隔缺损,可避免传统手术纠治需心室切口、心室内肌束切开和残余分流率高、对心功能影响大的缺点;且可缩短体外循环时间,并同期纠治伴发畸形,手术简便、安全,尤其适用于婴幼儿,可获得较佳近中期疗效。     

先天性心脏病术中心脏瓣膜的保护和矫治

目的 总结先天性心脏病术后因瓣膜功能不全再手术的经验。方法 回顾分析先天性心脏病术后再行瓣膜手术13例患者的临床资料,其中室间隔缺损修补术后8例,部分心内膜垫缺损修补术后3例,法洛四联症和房间隔缺损修补术后各1例。第1次手术时即存在二尖瓣轻～中度关闭不全6例,主动脉瓣关闭不全1例;新出现瓣膜功能异常6例,其中2例因补片漏致三尖瓣关闭不全,2例因前叶腱索断裂致三尖瓣关闭不全,1例因残留右心室流出道狭窄继发三尖瓣关闭不全,1例因伤及主动脉瓣并发二尖瓣和三尖瓣关闭不全。13例中,行二尖瓣置换6例,三尖瓣置换2例,主动脉瓣置换1例,行主动脉瓣置换并二尖瓣、三尖瓣成形1例,三尖瓣成形3例。同时修补残余漏,疏通右心室流出道。结果 术后发生低心排综合征3例。2例术后早期分别死于脑气栓和呼吸循环衰竭。11例术后痊愈出院,随访1～8年,心功能良好。结论 先天性心脏病矫治术中应注意心脏瓣膜的保护,合并的瓣膜功能异常应积极修补,及时地再手术可取得良好效果。     

未闭合膜部室间隔缺损的外科处理

为了探明位于三尖瓣边缘上的小室间隔缺损（ＶＳＤ）术后易发生心内残余分流的原因，１９９１年１月至１９９２年６月，我们于术中观察了３０例这一类型的ＶＳＤ。发现有以下特点：（１）三尖瓣隔瓣及其腱索与室间隔粘连；（２）隔瓣下隐蔽着一个较大的膜部室间隔缺损（ＭＶＳＤ）；（３）隔瓣边缘上的１个或多个缺损间及与隔瓣下的ＭＶＳＤ相互交通。我们认为，隔瓣边缘上的小“ＶＳＤ”可能是ＭＶＳＤ未完全闭合的一种形式。采用切开隔瓣，修补ＭＶＳＤ，再缝合隔瓣切口的手术方法，成功地避免了术后心内残余分流。     

Results with the two-patch technique for repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect

From May, 1982, to September, 1983, 9 patients underwent repair of complete AV septal defect. They ranged in age from 11 months to 48 months and in weight from 5.3 kg to 16.5 kg. Seven patients were 24 months old or less. Previous operations included pulmonary artery banding in 1 patient and ligation of a patent ductus arteriosus with repair of coarctation in another. All patients had large left-to-right shunts (mean pulmonary to systemic flow ratio, 3.1), and the 7 young infants had marked pulmonary hypertension. Mitral regurgitation was absent in 2 patients, mild in 3, moderate in 2, and severe in 2. One patient had the right ventricular dominant form of complete AV septal defect. In all instances, repair was done using separate ventricular and atrial patches. Leaflet tissue was not divided, and a trileaflet mitral valve was left in each patient. Eight patients survived operation and are well 3 to 17 months after repair. The single operative death occurred in the patient with right ventricular dominance. Only 1 patient has mild residual heart failure 4 months after operation. Clinically, mitral regurgitation is absent in 4 patients and, at most, mild in the other 4. No patient has a conduction disturbance. Repair of complete AV septal defect is facilitated by using separate patches for the ventricular and atrial components of the defect. Less distortion is created, and a more accurate reconstruction of a competent trileaflet mitral valve can be done.     

Transaortic closure of residual intramural ventricular septal defect

BACKGROUND: Residual intramural ventricular septal defect is an unusual cause of left-to-right shunt after biventricular repair of conotruncal anomalies. It results from the insertion of the patch within the trabeculated right ventricular free wall related to the ventriculoinfundibular fold creating a communication through the intertrabeculated spaces to the right ventricular cavity. This complication often leads to unsuccessful reoperations unless the exact mechanism of the shunt has been identified. METHODS AND RESULTS: Five patients presented with residual intramural ventricular septal defects. Three had double outlet right ventricle, one pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect, and one tetralogy of Fallot. One patient was unsuccessfully reoperated on for closure of the residual ventricular septal defect through the right ventricular approach. The surgical treatment, which consisted of patch closure of the residual intramural ventricular septal defect through aortotomy, was successful in 3 patients. In the 2 remaining patients the hemodynamically insignificant residual intramural ventricular septal defect remained untouched. No mortality or morbidity occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Residual intramural ventricular septal defect should be suspected in presence of a residual ventricular septal defect after biventricular repair of conotruncal anomalies. It is not accessible through either atriotomy or right ventriculotomy. The transaortic approach allows an easy treatment of this rare complication.     

Surgical management of trabecular ventricular septal defects: the sandwich technique

BACKGROUND: Surgical closure of trabecular ventricular septal defects is difficult and often unsuccessful. OBJECTIVE: We performed closure of trabecular ventricular septal defects by sandwiching the septum between 2 polyester felt patches placed in the left ventricle and right ventricle without ventriculotomy. METHODS: Eleven patients (7 boys and 4 girls) underwent a sandwiching closure at a mean age of 4.7 years (range, 0.4-9.7 years) and a mean weight of 16.7 kg (range, 4.6-52 kg). Associated cardiac malformations were present in 9 of the 11 patients. Seven patients had undergone previous operations. The trabecular ventricular septal defects are exposed through the tricuspid valve and also from the left ventricular side through a coexisting large perimembranous ventricular septal defect or through the mitral valve through an interatrial septostomy. Two forceps, one each from the right and left ventricular side, lead a 3F Nelaton catheter through the trabecular defect. An oversized circular polyester felt patch mounted on a 3-0 Nespolen suture attached to the Nelaton catheter is then passed into the left ventricle. The suture ends are then passed through a slightly smaller polyester felt patch on the right ventricular side of the septum. The Nespolen suture is then tied, thereby sandwiching the septum between the 2 patches. RESULTS: Time required for the procedure was less than 20 minutes in each case. There were no hospital deaths, and the postoperative course was uneventful in all patients. There was no residual shunt in 3 patients, and a minimal residual shunt was observed in 5 patients. Mild residual shunt was observed in 3 patients. Cardiac catheterization was performed 1 month postoperatively in 8 patients in whom residual shunt was noted on echocardiography. Five of 8 patients had a minimal residual shunt (pulmonary blood flow/systemic blood flow ratio = 1.0). Three patients had a residual shunt (pulmonary blood flow/systemic blood flow ratio = 2.0, 1.6, and 1.2). The patient with a pulmonary blood flow/systemic blood flow ratio of 2.0 had a "Swiss cheese" ventricular septal defect, and a residual shunt remained around the patch. However, the residual shunt decreased to a pulmonary blood flow/systemic blood flow ratio of 1.6 at examination 16 months postoperatively. Echocardiography showed that the residual shunt had also decreased in another 2 patients. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the sandwich technique is safe and easy. Even in cases with a residual shunt present, the shunt is expected to decrease as time passes. Further experience and longer follow-up of these patients are necessary to conclude whether this technique is applicable to neonates and young infants.     

TEE引导下经胸微创封堵治疗先天性心脏病

目的探讨TEE引导下经胸介入封堵治疗先天性心脏病(CHD)的临床应用价值。方法回顾50例接受TEE引导下经胸介入封堵治疗的CHD患者的资料,包括29例室间隔缺损(VSD)、12例房间隔缺损(ASD)、1例ASD合并VSD及8例动脉导管未闭(PDA),封堵前均经TEE再次明确诊断并观察心脏缺损情况,术中超声实时监测并引导导丝、鞘管等到达指定位置及封堵伞放置,术后超声观察有无残余分流、瓣膜功能障碍评以价封堵效果,并通过心电图监测患者有无心律失常、传导阻滞。结果 49例介入封堵成功,其中11例术后即刻TEE可见残余分流;术后1、3、6个月复查TEE,49例均显示封堵器位置良好,无残余分流及封堵术导致的瓣膜反流,复查心电图未见心律失常及传导阻滞。1例VSD介入封堵失败。结论 TEE用于引导经胸介入封堵治疗CHD安全、有效且创伤小、无辐射、无需对比剂,操作简便,值得临床推广应用。     

Residual postmyocardial infarction ventricular septal defect repair through right atrium with right thoracotomy on beating heart technique

Abstract   Background and Aim: The incidence of residual opening after repair of postmyocardial infarction ventricular septal defect (VSD) was reported to be 10% to 25%. Redo surgery with remedian sternotomy is more complex than primary surgery and is consequently associated with higher mortality and morbidity due to the myocardial and patent coronary grafts injury during pericardial dissection. Methods: A 59-year-old female patient had coronary artery bypass grafting and closure of post myocardial infarction ventricular septal defect with patch 10 months earlier in a different cardiac center. She was admitted to the hospital for severe congestive heart failure. Results: She was operated because of the residual opening after repair of post myocardial infarction ventricular septal defect. Post myocardial infarction ventricular septal defect closure was performed through the right atrium by on-pump beating heart technique via the right thoracotomy. Conclusions: Closure of post myocardial infarction ventricular septal defect with this technique offers an alternative and safe approach to repair of the residual VSD when the coronary bypass grafts are patent.     

伴室间隔缺损的肺动脉闭锁的外科治疗

目的探讨伴室间隔缺损的肺动脉闭锁（VSD-PA）的外科治疗的手术时机、适应证和方法。方法1984年6月至2005年3月对32例VSD-PA进行外科手术治疗33例次,32例中男15例、女17例,年龄6个月～9岁,其中合并主动脉到肺的侧支循环动脉（APCA）的9例。3例周围肺动脉发育差、肺动脉指数（PAI）〈150mm^2／m^2,行升主动脉-肺动脉分流术;2例全部新的肺动脉指数（TNPAI）〈150mm^2／m^2或肺循环完全由分散、细小的MAPCA供应者,行一期单源化手术和室间隔缺损开放;27例（28例次,包括1例分流术后13个月）肺动脉发育达到PAI〉150mm^2／m^2或TNPAI〉200mm^2／m^2,行中度低温体外循环下一期矫治手术。结果术后早期死亡5例,其中一期矫治手术后死亡4例,分别为严重低心排血量综合征2例,灌注肺1例,多脏器功能衰竭1例;升主动脉肺动脉分流术后死亡1例,为切口感染、心内膜炎。21例随访3个月-15．5年,NYHA心功能Ⅰ和Ⅱ级19例,Ⅲ和Ⅳ级各1例。结论VSD-PA的外科治疗包括姑息或矫治手术,对于肺动脉发育较好的VSD—PA,尽可能早期进行一期矫治手术可以得到满意的效果。     

Outcome of patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease undergoing a second systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt

BACKGROUND: Multiple systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunts often represent a deviation from the initial management strategy for cyanotic congenital heart disease. This study analysed the outcome in patients undergoing a second shunt. METHODS: Between 1965 and 1998, 80 patients required a second shunt. Patient age ranged from 11 days to 11.2 years at the initial shunt, and 4 months to 25.6 years at the second shunt. The interval between shunts ranged from 11 days to 19.6 years. RESULTS: The patient survival rates at 1, 6, 12, 60 and 120 months following the second shunt were 95.0 +/- 2.4%, 92.5+/-3.0%, 87.4+/-3.7%. 82.4+/-4.5% and 74.8+/-5.8%, respectively. Although excess pulmonary flow was not encountered after the second shunt, mode and incidence of morbidity were otherwise similar to the first one. Between 9 months and 7.5 years after the second shunt, 24 patients underwent successful definitive repair. Multivariable analysis identified pulmonary atresia (p=0.027) and a short (<1 year) interval between the two shunts (p=0.034) as the independent risk factors for long-term shunt failure. Single ventricle physiology (p=0.002) and a central approach for the second shunt (p=0.016) were independent risk factors for lack of application, or failure of intracardiac definitive repair. CONCLUSIONS: A significant limitation in longevity and quality of life is common in patients requiring a second shunt, especially those associated with pulmonary atresia, the single ventricle physiology heart, or ungraftably hypoplastic contralateral branch pulmonary artery to the first shunt. Since excess pulmonary blood flow leading to congenital heart failure and/or ventricular diastolic dysfunction is unlikely, all patients who preclude definitive repair due to decreased pulmonary blood flow even after the first shunt should be shunted again.     

New approach to multiple ventricular septal defect closure with intraoperative echocardiography and double patches sandwiching the septum

OBJECTIVE: This was an evaluation of a new approach to the management of multiple muscular ventricular septal defects. The defects were located with epicardial echocardiography, then transfixed with a guide wire inserted directly through the right ventricular free wall. They were closed with a custom-made multilayered double-patch device under cardioplegic arrest through a standard right atriotomy. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 14 consecutive patients. RESULTS: The median age and body weight at repair were 40 days (range 1 week-8 years, 3 months) and 4.1 kg (2.8-24 kg), respectively. Five patients (36%) had undergone at least one previous sternotomy; 11 patients (78%) had associated cardiac lesions. Closure of the multiple septal defects was successful in 12 patients (85%). Failure to localize all defects led to pulmonary artery banding in 2 patients. One patient had the residual septal defect closed with a percutaneous device 6 months later, and in the second patient the residual defect was closed with a conventional approach 11 months afterward. Two patients had permanent pacemaker insertion. In 279 patient-months of follow-up, there was 1 cardiac arrest on day 1 and no early or late deaths; all children but one are free of cardiac medications, and no significant residual left-to-right shunts were demonstrated in any patient. CONCLUSION: The reported management of multiple ventricular septal defects has been successful in this series, even in neonates and infants with complex associated cardiac lesions. It appears safe, simple, and effective.