Surgical repair of post myocardial infarction ventricular septal defect: a retrospective analysis of a single institution experience.

INTRODUCTION: Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a mechanical complication of acute myocardial infarction (MI) with a very high mortality, despite advances in surgical and circulatory support. The tremendous hemodynamic disturbance and the severely fragile myocardium render surgical repair a great challenge. The optimal time of surgical repair with or without circulatory support is still controversial. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to review our experience with early surgical repair of post-MI VSD in a single major cardiac institution in China. METHODS: From January 2013 to October 2020, 9consecutive patients presented to our emergency department with a diagnosis of post-MI VSD. Among them, 8 were male, and the mean age was 58 ± 7years. The mean VSD size was 22.5 ± 5.7 mm. In all patients, an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP)was inserted immediately after admission to cardiac surgery service. All patients were operated at a mean of 3.3 ± 2.9 days, and 4 within 24 h of the rupture (range 1 to 9 days post-VSD). In 5 cases, the VSD was located superiorly, and 4 cases in the posterior septum. RESULTS: The overall 30-day mortality was 11% (1/9). Coronary angiography was performed in all nine patients, four with single vessel disease had coronary stents implanted, and the other five received concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting during VSD repair surgery. There was no death in all 5 patients with anterior septal perforation. One patient with posterior septal perforation died in the operating room due to bleeding from the ventriculotomy site. Three survived patients were diagnosed with a small residual defect and mild left to right shunt post-repair. However, no further intervention was required, and patients remained asymptomatic (Killip II in 1 and III in 2). CONCLUSION: In our experience, immediate insertion of IABP and hemodynamic stabilization with early surgical intervention of VSD repair and concomitant coronary revascularization provided an 89% survival rate.

Transatrial repair of a ventricular septal defect and tricuspid valve replacement after a blunt chest trauma.

In this case report, we provide insight into how we managed this case of a large traumatic ventricular septal defect and concomitant tricuspid valve insufficiency with a transatrial approach to ensure a successful repair.

Hybrid Closure of Postinfarction Apical Ventricular Septal Defect Using Septal Occluder Device and Right Ventricular Free Wall: The Apical BASSINET Concept.

BACKGROUND: Postinfarction ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a catastrophic complication of myocardial infarction. Surgical repair still has poor outcomes. This report describes clinical outcomes after a novel hybrid transcatheter/surgical repair in patients with apical VSD. METHODS: Seven patients with postmyocardial infarction apical VSD underwent hybrid transcatheter repair via subxiphoid surgical access. A transcatheter occluder (Amplatzer Septal Occluder) with a trailing premounted suture was deployed through the right ventricular wall and through the ventricular septum into the left ventricular apex. The trailing suture was used to connect an anchor external to the right ventricular wall. Tension on the suture then collapses the right ventricular free wall against the septum and left ventricular occluder, thereby obliterating the VSD. Outcomes were compared with 9 patients who underwent surgical repair using either patch or primary suture closure. RESULTS: All patients had significant left-to-right shunt (Qp:Qs 2.5:1; interquartile range [IQR, 2.1-2.6] hybrid repair versus 2.0:1 [IQR, 2.0-2.5] surgical repair), and elevated right ventricular systolic pressure (62 [IQR, 46-71] versus 49 [IQR, 43-54] mm Hg, respectively). All had severely depressed stroke volume index (22 versus 21 mL/m2) with ≈45% in each group requiring mechanical support preprocedurally. The procedure was done 15 (IQR, 10-50) versus 24 (IQR, 10-134) days postmyocardial infarction, respectively. Both groups of patients underwent repair with technical success and without intraprocedural death. One patient in the hybrid group and 4 in the surgical group developed multiorgan failure. The hybrid group had a higher survival at discharge (86% versus 56%) and at 30 days (71% versus 56%), but similar at 1 year (57% versus 56%). During follow-up, 1 patient in each group required reintervention for residual VSD (hybrid: 9 months versus surgical: 5 days). CONCLUSIONS: Early intervention with a hybrid transcatheter/surgical repair may be a viable alternative to traditional surgery for postinfarction apical VSD.

Post-infarction ventricular septal defect surgery in Portugal.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: We performed a collective analysis of a dedicated national post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal defect (VSD) registry to further elucidate controversial areas of this clinical entity's surgical treatment. METHODS: A descriptive statistical analysis was carried out and cumulative survival using the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate logistic regression of risk factors for 30-day mortality are presented. RESULTS: Median survival of the cohort (n=76) was 72 months (95% CI 4-144 months). Better cumulative survival was observed in patients who underwent VSD closure more than 10 days after myocardial infarction (log-rank p=0.036). Concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), different closure techniques, location of the VSD, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as bridge to closure, or intra-aortic balloon pump as bridge to closure showed no statistically significant differences at Kaplan-Meier analysis. Multivariate binary logistic regression for independent factors affecting status at 30 days showed a statistically significant effect of age (OR 1.08; 95% CI 1.01-1.15) and concomitant CABG (OR 0.23; 95% CI 0.06-0.90). CONCLUSIONS: Our results are comparable with previous reports regarding mortality, risk factors and concomitant procedures. Timing of surgery remains a controversial issue. Later closure seems to be advantageous, however, there is significant observational bias.

A Single-Centre Retrospective Review of Modified Blalock-Taussig Shunts: A 22-Year Experience.

INTRODUCTION: This single-centre retrospective study explores demographics and outcomes of patients who underwent a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (MBTS) over a 22-year period. The predominant surgical approach in this study is a lateral thoracotomy, in contrast to a midline sternotomy. Risks and outcomes of this approach are compared with national and international literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographic, anatomical, clinical, surgical and outcome data of all patients who underwent a MBTS between 2000 and 2022 were collected and analysed, excluding Norwood procedures, which are not performed at this institution. Short- and long-term morbidity and mortality is described. RESULTS: Over the 22-year study period, 185 MBTS were performed in 162 patients, at a median age of 16 days (interquartile range [IQR] 5-59 days) and weight of 3.47 kg (IQR 3-4.25 kg, minimum weight 2 kg). Of these, 79% of patients had a biventricular circulation. Cardiac diagnoses included both univentricular and biventricular anatomy; tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) (36%), transposition of the great arteries/ventricular septal defect/pulmonary stenosis (TGA/VSD/PS) (11%), pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS) (23%), pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA/VSD) (14%), other (16%). The most common size of MBTS was 4 mm (71%); 93% were performed via a lateral thoracotomy. There were 47 cases of major operative morbidity, which did not differ significantly with cardiac diagnosis. Overall all-cause mortality was 13.5%. Early operative mortality was 4.3%. Mortality varied with cardiac diagnosis, 6% with TOF and 19% with PA/IVS. There was no era effect on mortality rates, however a lower frequency of major morbidity (23% vs 7%, p=0.03) was observed in the most recent third of the study period. Risk factors for shunt reintervention or mortality included weight <2.5 kg (HR=2.79 [1.37, 5.65], p=0.005), and pre- (HR=3.31 [1.86, 5.9], p<0.001) or postoperative lactic acidosis (HR=1.37 [1.25,1.5], p<0.001). These rates are comparable to those in the literature, with the predominant approach a midline sternotomy. CONCLUSION: Mortality rates and risk factors for adverse outcomes are comparable to those previously reported for both univentricular and biventricular groups. These results highlight that outcomes of MBTS performed via lateral thoracotomy are comparable to those by midline sternotomy as reported in the literature. Operating via the lateral approach may be advantageous as it avoids the complications of a midline sternotomy.

Transcatheter Closure of a Iatrogenic Gerbode Type Ventricular Septal Defect Post Surgical Septal Myectomy With Mitral and Aortic Valve Replacement.

Jatrogenic communication between left ventricle and right atrium, known as Gerbode type ventricular septal defect (GVSD) may be observed after different surgical interventions. We present a case of iatrogenic GVSD following complex cardiac surgery including septal myectomy combined with mitral and aortic valve replacement, which was successfully closed percutanously by Occlutech septal occluder.

Post-Infarction Ventricular Septal Defect: A quarter century experience.

Objectives: Post-infarction ventricular septal defect (VSD) is one of the known complications after acute myocardial infarction. This study investigated the clinical results after surgical repair of VSD. Methods: This retrospective study included all patients undergoing surgical repair of VSD from 1996 to 2020 in Oman. Results: Out of a total of 75 patients, 62.5% were men, with a mean age of 59 years. The mean follow-up was 17.2 (7.5) years. Of the 75 patients, 34 (45.3%) patients died within 30 days. Total survival was 41.3% at 5 years, while the 10-year survival rate was 33.3%. Outcomes and predictors for 30 days mortality were the number of concomitant coronary involvement and anastomoses performed, residual postoperative shunt and postoperative dialysis. Conclusion: Even with surgical repair, early mortality of post-infarction septal defect is still considerably high. Early repair and the anatomically posterior rupture are predictors of early mortality. In patients surviving the immediate postoperative period, long-term survival is limited by pre-existing coronary artery disease, postoperative renal failure and the presence of a residual postoperative shunt.

The combination of Euroscore II with a new variable "Nongraftable coronary artery lesions" improves the discriminating power of the test in surgical patients with postinfarction ventricular septal defect and ventricular aneurysm.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to establish whether Euroscore II can be used for the prediction of hospital mortality in surgical patients with postinfarction intraventricular septal defect (PIVSD) and ventricular aneurysm (VA), and coexisting coronary artery lesions (CALs), and identify perioperative mortality risk factors to improve the discriminating power of Euroscore II. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study. The inclusion criterion was PIVSD. Exclusion criteria were previous CABG, conservative treatment, percutaneous transcatheter closure of PIVSDs, and PIVSDs with normal coronary arteries on coronary angiography. RESULTS: Among 53 patients with PIVSDs and VAs who met eligibility criteria, 12 (22.6%) patients died in the hospital. Logistic regression demonstrated that Euroscore II was associated with in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.23; p = .006), well-calibrated (Hosmer-Lemeshow χ2 (8) = 9.75; p = .283), and had fair discriminating power, area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) = 77% (95% CI: 58%-96%). A newly identified variable "Nongraftable CALs" was associated with in-hospital mortality (OR = 6.65; 95% CI: 1.24-35.53; p = .027), and had a fair discriminating power, AUC = 70% (95% CI: 54%-85%). When Euroscore II and Nongraftable CALs were combined, the discriminating power of the test increased to 83% (95% CI: 71%-95%), p = .036. CONCLUSION: Euroscore II has adequate discriminating power and good calibration in predicting in-hospital mortality of surgical patients with PIVSDs and VAs. The combination of Euroscore II with a new variable "Nongraftable CALs" significantly improves the performance of the model.

Management and outcomes of ventricular septal defects after acute myocardial infarction: A multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The mortality rate of patients with post-myocardial infarction (MI) ventricular septal defects (VSDs) is high, and the benefit of surgery is unclear. We aimed to investigate the management and outcomes of post-MI VSD over a 10-year period in a large cohort. METHODS: Data of patients with post-MI VSD admitted in three French university hospitals from 2008 to 2019 were examined. The characteristics of those who underwent surgery were compared with those who received medical treatment. Mortality risk factors, survival curves, and outcomes at 30 days and 1 year after treatment were determined. RESULTS: Of the 92 patients whose data were examined, 50 underwent surgery and 42 received exclusive medical treatment. All patients were critically ill. Overall, 76.1% of patients received inotropic support, and 63% received mechanical ventilation. Circulatory assistance, mainly via intra-aortic balloon pump and extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation, was provided to 46.7% patients, with 14.1% requiring a second assistance. The median time to surgery was 4 days. At 1 year, mortality was 46% in those who underwent surgery and 83.3% in those treated medically (p < .001). Survival curves at 1 and 3 months showed major differences, and the survival rate showed little change 30 days after treatment. Cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest emerged as risk factors for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In our retrospective, multicenter study, the mortality resulting from post-MI VSD did not seem to improve over the last decade. Although surgery carried considerable risks, it improved survival.

Word of caution: Severe aortic valve injury linked to retrograde closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects.

Retrograde device closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects (pmVSDs) is an interesting procedure with several technical advantages and encouraging follow-up results. Nevertheless, aortic valve injuries may occur and require sufficient attention. Herein, we report the first two cases of severe aortic regurgitation that we have linked to the retrograde pmVSD closure with the KONAR-MF™ VSD occluder. We detail the technical aspects, comprehensively discuss procedural errors and conclude with important learning points.

Iatrogenic ventricular septal defect during right ventricular assist device insertion in congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries.

This case report describes the management of a large iatrogenic ventricular septal defect (VSD) created by the coring device during systemic ventricular assist device (right ventricular assist device [RVAD]) insertion in a 16-year-old patient with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries. The VSD was closed by a bovine pericardial patch and the ventriculotomy was extended laterally to relocate the VAD sewing ring. After RVAD implantation, the patient initially remained cyanotic, potentially due to a tiny VSD patch leak with right-to-left shunting. Hypoxia was successfully corrected by rescue nitric oxide infusion and the patient was bridged to transplant after 91 days.

A Novel Surgical Technique to Address Post-Septal Myectomy Ventricular Septal Defect.

Iatrogenic ventricular septal defect is a rare complication in patients undergoing septal myectomy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, and it necessitates closure in the postoperative period. We describe a novel surgical technique for closure of the ventricular septal defect using a biventricular approach with a custom-made polytetrafluoroethylene device. Our method is easily reproducible.

Surgical outcomes of post-infarct ventricular septal defect repair: Insights from the UK national adult cardiac surgery audit database.

OBJECTIVES: Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is becoming a progressively less frequent mechanical complication of myocardial infarction (MI). However, this event is still associated with high operative mortality. We aimed to describe the trends and the risk factors associated with surgical VSD repair outcomes and to provide a clinical benchmark for percutaneous VSD closure strategies. METHODS: Using the UK National Adult Cardiac Surgery Audit database, we identified 1010 patients undergoing surgical VSD repair from 1996 to 2018. The primary outcome was operative mortality. Mixed-model, multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the risk factors associated with operative mortality taking into account the variation related to the centre, the surgeon and the year of the operation. RESULTS: Both the number of surgical VSD repair and the mortality rate did not change significantly over the 23-year timeframe. Operative mortality was 38.9% overall and was higher when patients were operated within the first 6 h (75%) or the first 24 h (61.3%) from the index MI. Risk factors associated with higher odds of mortality were early surgery, older age, cardiogenic shock, renal failure, previous percutaneous coronary intervention and urgent/emergent operations. Moreover, the mortality rate was similar among patients undergoing isolated VSD repair and VSD repaired combined with surgical coronary revascularization alone or with concomitant mitral valve procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Post MI VSD remains a dreaded mechanical complication characterized by high surgical operative mortality. A delayed operation, whenever possible, appears to be the most beneficial strategy to reduce mortality.

Predictors of Mortality in Primary Surgical Repair of Postinfarction Ventricular Septal Defects: The Leipzig Experience.

BACKGROUND: A postinfarction ventricular septal defect (pVSD) as a complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with high mortality. This retrospective, single-center study aimed to identify predictors of early and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing primary surgical repair of pVSD managed by various surgical techniques. METHODS: We reviewed data from 77 consecutive patients who underwent primary surgical repair after pVSD in our institution. Prospectively collected demographic and perioperative data were analyzed retrospectively. Predictors of 30-day mortality and long-term outcome were assessed. RESULTS: pVSD was anterior in 45 patients (58.4%) and posterior in 32 (41.6%). Buttressed mattress suture (n = 9, 11.7%), simple single septal patch (n = 34, 44.2%), simple double septal patch (n = 2, 2.6%), sandwich double patch (n = 1, 1.3%), and the infarct exclusion technique (n = 31, 40.3%) were performed for surgical closure. Fifty-three patients (68.8%) had preoperative cardiogenic shock. The 30-day mortality was 42.8% (33 patients). Independent risk factors of 30-day mortality were duration between AMI and surgery <7 days (odds ratio [OR] 5.229, P = .011), preoperative absence of diuretics (OR 6.913, P = .005), and preoperative cardiogenic shock (OR 3.558, P = .011). Cumulative survival rates at 1, 5, and 10 years were 57.1%, 57.1%, and 31.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In pVSD, the 30-day mortality remains high, and preoperative cardiogenic shock significantly influenced mortality in our study. None of the surgical techniques or materials used in our investigation influenced the outcome.