Intraoperative device closure of postinfarction ventricular septal defects

Postinfarction ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are associated with high mortality and typically these are treated urgently with surgery for exclusion patch repair. Percutaneous closure of postinfarction VSDs using occlusion devices is feasible in some patients, but in some cases device deployment may not be possible due to VSD anatomy or valvular apparatus interference. We report the novel technique of deploying Amplatzer VSD devices in the operating room under direct vision through a right atriotomy with and without aortotomy in 2 patients with large inferobasal VSDs after myocardial infarction.