[Ventricular septal defect in early childhood].

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Congenital Heart Disease

Background:

• Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a common congenital heart defect.
• Hemodynamically severe VSDs in infants pose significant surgical challenges.
• Pulmonary hypertension is a common complication of severe VSDs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of surgical interventions for hemodynamically severe VSD in patients weighing less than 10 kg.
• To compare the results of complete VSD correction versus pulmonary artery ligation in this patient group.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 18 patients under 10 kg with severe VSD.
• Group 1: 12 patients underwent complete VSD correction using extracorporeal circulation.
• Group 2: 6 infants underwent pulmonary artery ligation.

Main Results:

• Excellent operative results were achieved in 10 out of 12 patients who had complete VSD correction.
• Three patients (two from complete correction, one from ligation) died due to severe pulmonary hypertension.
• Both surgical approaches were used for patients with significant left-to-right shunts and pulmonary hypertension.

Conclusions:

• Surgical correction of hemodynamically severe VSD in early childhood is indicated when conservative treatment fails.
• Urgent surgical procedures for VSD are recommended regardless of patient age or body weight.
• Early surgical intervention improves outcomes for infants with severe VSD and pulmonary hypertension.