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.