Long-term results of open heart repair of ventricular septal defect

Long-term follow-up results of 321 patients who underwent open heart repair of ventricular septal defect in our institute and have lived for more than five years were analyzed using questionnaires. The follow-up period was up to 24 years with an average of 12.9 years. The questionnaire mainly concerned the patient's state of health. Beside this, IQ was measured in 52 children, ECG was analyzed in 92 patients and heart catheterization was performed on 21 patients with preoperative severe pulmonary hypertension (PH). From this survey, it was ascertained that no deaths resulted from cardiac disorders; physical activity and development were satisfactory in nearly all patients; the scholastic achievement score was within the normal range in nearly all school children; among 30 live births from 24 adult female patients, two babies with simple cardiac anomalies were found and there remained very few patients suffering from residual PH, residual shunt or conduction disturbances. IQ as tested by individual intelligence tests was within the normal range in all children. On ECG, complete right bundle branch block with left anterior hemiblock was found in 9% and complete atrioventricular block in 7%. Amelioration of PH was achieved especially in those who underwent operations in their younger years.