Ventricular septal defect post-operative treatment

and Leida Perez, M.D.

Associate Editor-in-Chief: Keri Shafer, M.D. [mailto:kshafer@bidmc.harvard.edu]

Post-operative Treatment
Post-operative course:

The operative mortality for an elective repair is less than 2%. It is increased by the presence of associated anomalies, multiple defects, or if there 	is severe pulmonary hypertension.

Late follow-up shows that their life expectancy is restored to that of age matched controls (except in those over the age of three with severe pulmonary hypertension).

There is a residual defect in 14% to 25% of patients which is hemodynamically insignificant, and a persistent RBBB in the majority of patients due to disruption of the Purkinje fibers.

In patients over 3 at the time of the operation, there is often residual and progressive pulmonary hypertension and or residual ventricular dysfunction.

The risk of endocarditis following closure is similar to that in the general population. Because small defects are frequent, antibiotic prophylaxis is still recommended.