[Surgical treatment of incomplete endocardial cushion defect in adult patients]

Seven adult patients (> or = 40 years old) and six pediatric patients with incomplete endocardial cushion defect (ECD) underwent corrective surgery in our institution. Preoperative catheterization study showed that the left-to-right shunting rate and the pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratio were greater in adult patients than those in pediatric patients, but systolic pulmonary arterial pressure was not high and similar in the two groups. The degree of mitral regurgitation by left ventriculography was mild or moderate in both groups. However, in adult patients, a variety of arrhythmias were observed. Postoperatively, NYHA grades and arrhythmia improved markedly in the adult patients. Surgical correction for ECD is recommended even in adult patients before aggravation of cardiac failure and arrhythmia.