Intraoperative Device Closure of Isolated Ventricular Septal Defects: Experience on 1,090 Cases

This study summarizes the clinical experience and 8-year follow-up results of the intraoperative device closure of ventricular septal defects (VSD).

From January 2009 to June 2017, 1,090 patients with isolated VSD were enrolled at our institute to participate in the study. The procedure involved a small lower sternal incision that was performed after full evaluation of VSD by transesophageal/transthoracic echocardiographic (TEE/TTE) guidance and the deployment of a domestically made occluder to close the VSD periventricularly and off cardiopulmonary bypass. Follow-up was in the first 3 months and then every 1 to 2 years with TTE, electrocardiography, and upon symptoms.

In all, 1,033 patients were occluded successfully under this approach, and the remaining patients were converted to surgical repair. The size of the occluder deployed ranged from 6 to 14 mm and included 825 symmetric devices and 208 asymmetric devices. A total of 25 patients developed severe arrhythmias, including 11 cases of complete atrioventricular block and 14 cases of Mobitz type II atrioventricular block, during and after the procedure.

Minimally invasive transthoracic device closure of VSD with an asymmetric or symmetric domestically made device on a beating heart is a safe and feasible alternative to conventional surgical repair. More experience in multicenter and long-term follow-up is necessary to assess the actual feasibility and safety of this procedure.