RESULTS OF URGENT OR EMERGENCY REPAIR FOR SYMPTOMATIC INFANTS UNDER ONE YEAR OF AGE WITH SINGLE OR MULTIPLE VENTRICULAR SEPTAL-DEFECT

Repair of ventricular septal defects (VSDs) in symptomatic infants aged < 1 year previously had a high mortality and led to the use of pulmonary artery banding for many years. 1 As improvements in techniques (surgical, open-heart, instrumentation, myocardial preservation, anesthesia and postoperative care) occurred, the use of pulmonary artery banding for an isolated VSD decreased, and in many centers stopped completely.2 We report the results of VSD repair in 54 unselected infants who presented with congestive heart failure that had limited or no improvement with medical treatment. The types of VSDs and the associated defects are reported, as well as in-hospital and follow-up mortality and morbidity. © 1992.