Short- and medium-term follow-up of transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects

Background Transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects is one of the greatest challenges in interventional cardiology. Short- and midium-term follow-up data for large samples are limited. This report presents our experience with transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects using an occluder. Methods Two hundred fifty-three patients included in the database of the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital from January 2011- December 2015 with transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects and discharged from follow-up. All patients were invited for clinical and transthoracic echocardiography, electrocardiogram, and thoracic radiography check-up. Results Device implantation was successful in 252 of 253 patients (99.6%). The median age was 42 months (range 27-216 months). The median follow-up duration was 36 months (range 6-60 months). The mean defect diameter was 3.5 +/- 1.4 mm and the mean size of the ventricular septal defect rim below the aortic valve was 3.7 +/- 1.8 mm. The mean diameter of the devices used was 4 mm. Thirty-seven patients developed arrhythmia after the procedure and recovered within 24 months; four patients had hemolysis and four had moderate tricuspid valve regurgitation. No other serious adverse event occurred during the follow-up period. Conclusion Transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects using an occluder is safe and effective in most patients.