Surgical treatment of congenital ventricular septal defect. A 21 year experience in 1,187 patients
Guo, J.Q.; Xue, G.X.; Zhu, X.D.; Yue, X.H.; Hu, B.Z.; Zhi, Q.H.; Xu, Q.Z.; Fan, D.J.; Chen, Y.C.; Zhou, Q.W.
Chinese Medical Journal 96(5): 323-329
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0366-6999 PMID: 6413153 Document Number: 199549
From June 1959 to Dec. 1980, 1187 consecutive cases underwent ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure. The operative mortality was 4.8% (VSD with pulmonary hypertension 13.1%, VSD without pulmonary hypertension 1.8%). Of early deaths in the series, 80% were due to postoperative complications. Five hundred seventy two followed up from 6 mo. to 19 yr (mean, 3.5 yr). The late results are divided into 3 groups; good (84.2%), fair (11.3%) and poor (4.3%). The causes of early and late poor results were analyzed and were largely related to VSD with pulmonary hypertension and postoperative complications with the major technical factors. The operative technique of repairing membraneous VSD through a right atrial incision and treatment of VSD with pulmonary hypertension are discussed, with proper patient selection in the latter category stressed. Improvements in equipment and surgical technique are necessary.