Interventional closure of residual leaks in ventricular septal defects

  With the development of cardiac surgery techniques, the incidence of residual leakage of ventricular septal defects is becoming less and less frequent. However, the occurrence of any case of ventricular defect residual leak is a pain in the heart of the attending surgeon. Ventricular defect residual leak causes great stress and potential medical disputes for both doctors and patients, and interventional treatment without secondary chest opening can become a more acceptable treatment option for both sides. Six patients with residual leak after ventricular defect were treated by interventional blocking in cardiovascular surgery in our hospital with satisfactory results.  1. DATA: From September 2011 to August 2014, 6 patients with ventricular defect residual leak, 2 males and 4 females, aged 4-5 6 years, were treated. The diameter of VSD residual leak was 3-9m m. Two cases had multiple residual leaks and four cases had a single leak.  2. Methods: The method of interventional occlusion and the choice of the occluder were according to the conventional interventional occlusion technique, but individualized treatment plans were needed. Postoperative management and follow-up were the same as conventional.  3. Results: The left ventriculography showed single outlet in 4 cases and multiple outlets in 2 cases, the diameter of the defective orifice ranged from 3 to 9 m, and the diameter of the blocker applied ranged from 8 to 12 m, all of which were successful. The mean intraoperative X-ray time ranged from 8 to 30 min ( 16.9±4.2), and there was no residual shunt during the postoperative follow-up period of 6 months to 30 months. All patients had no thromboembolism, hemolysis, infective endocarditis, atrioventricular block, no blocker displacement, no aortic regurgitation and other complications.  4, Discussion: The causes of residual leak after VSD repair are various and closely related to the surgical repair technique, mainly: ① sutures are too shallow, too little tissue is sutured, resulting in tissue tearing; sutures are too widely spaced, leaving intervals. ②Tying the knot too loosely to leave a gap, or too tightly to cause tissue tearing. ③Smaller patch, larger tension after suturing causes tearing. ④The transfer stitch is incorrectly sutured, and residual leakage occurs in the posterior inferior corner of the VSD and below the aortic and pulmonary valves. ⑤ Excessive clipping during the treatment of abnormal myocardial bundles and hypertrophic myocardium in the right ventricular outflow tract resulted in loss of the intact endocardium, which tended to tear the local sutures in the direction of the myofibers. The size of the residual leak is observed by routine transthoracic echocardiography and, if necessary, transesophageal echocardiography to observe the size and location of the residual leak and to measure the distance from the aortic valve.  Personal experience: 1. The residual leak at the lower edge of the VSD patch is suitable for sealing, while the residual leak at the upper edge of the patch has a low sealing success rate due to its proximity to the aortic valve. 2. Accurate assessment of the size, location, and number of residual leaks in relation to the aortic valve is the key to successful sealing. 3. The perimembranous residual leak, mostly located in the posterior inferior corner of the ventricular defect, is closely related to the conduction system and should be sealed with attention to conduction. In patients with tetralogy of Fallot, if the residual leak is located at the upper edge, it is often difficult to seal it because of the aortic span. 6. With skilled interventional techniques, it is difficult to establish a good track because the channel formed by the residual leak is irregular, the channel is distorted, and the surface is blocked by valves or tendons, which makes it difficult to pass the guiding wire. 7. According to the morphology, size and adjacent relationship of the residual leak, choose the appropriate type of blocker (symmetrical, eccentric, thin waist and large side, long waist type, etc.).  Interventional treatment of residual leak can shorten the hospital stay, reduce medical costs and medical risks by eliminating the need for secondary chest opening, no blood loss and little chance of infection. It is less painful for patients, easily accepted by patients and physicians, with precise efficacy and more obvious advantages, and is recommended.