Surgical techniques used for closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects
A retrospective study was done at Red Cross Children's Hospital, Rondebosch, Cape Town in which two separate case-matched groups of children undergoing different surgical closure techniques for their isolated perimembranous ventricular septal defects were compared. Group I consisted of 77 children who had their VSDs closed between 1987 to 1990, mainly with a double velour dacron patch using interrupted alternating 5.0 silicone coated braided polyester suture ( Ticron®) and 5.0 polypropylene (Prolene®) pledgetted sutures (n=71). Five patients in Group I had bovine pericardium used and 1 patient's VSD was closed by a direct suture technique. Group II consisted of 93 children operated on between 1995 to 1998, and had their VSDs closed with a 0.6% glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardial patch using 5.0 polypropylene suture material in a continuous horizontal mattress suture without pledgets. Surgical time, discharge echocardiograms and follow up records were reviewed to assess the incidence of complications, reoperation or residual VSD needing further follow up.
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