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

Abstract

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. This was a retrospective study of 14 consecutive patients. The median age and body weight at repair were 40 days (range 1 week8 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 ..