Gülhis Batmaz

The Natural Course of Isolated Ventricular Septal Defect During Adolescence

Abstract. Serial changes in patients with isolated VSD during adolescence have not previously been investigated. Hemodynamic status, diameter of the defect, and growth were studied yearly in 106 children with VSD. The mean duration of the follow-up was 13.16 years and ranged in 80% of subjects from 7 to 19 years (1395 patient years). The mean ages at pre- and postpuberty were 8.62 and 16.67, respectively. The presented longitudinal study, in which losses due to death and operation were minimal (4%), ideally reflected the natural history of VSD. Although weight showed retardation during prepuberty, this lag was caught up by the end of adolescence. Stature showed no retardation in pre- and postpuberty. Cardiothoracic ratio decreased significantly from a mean of 0.48 to 0.44 and showed normal variation. Although the mean defect diameter at prepuberty was 5.33 mm, this decreased to 2.7 postpubertally. The individual decrease (1.7 ± 2.34 mm) was significant (t= 5.349, p < 1/105). The defect closed spontaneously in 24 (22.6%). In the 75 patients without pulmonary hypertension and with mild left-to-right shunting, 52 remained in the same class and spontaneous closure was observed in 23. In the 24 patients with moderate to severe left-to-right shunt, this decreased in 23 and only one remained stable. The 2 patients (1.9%) with Eisenmenger syndrome remained stable and 1 died. Aortic regurgitution developed in 10 patients (9.4%); however, this was of mild degree in most of them. No infective endocarditis was observed. It is concluded that patients with VSD should be followed closely through adolescence, because the diameter of the defect, as well as left-to-right shunting, can decrease, and it is concluded that the spontaneous closure of the defect is to be expected in a considerable 23%, and aortic prolapse or mild regurgitation may develop in approximately 10%.

Regression of right ventricular pressure in ventricular septal defect in infancy: a longitudinal color-flow Doppler echocardiographic study.

Abstract. To determine the course of right ventricular pressure (RVP) in patients with isolated ventricular septal defect (VSD) and factors influencing it, unselected 148 infants were followed-up longitudinally with color-Doppler echocardiography from a median age of 1 month for 201 patient-years. The patients were divided into three groups by absolute echographic size of VSD: group I, ≤4.0 mm; group II, >4 to ≤7 mm; group III, >7 mm. Sixty percent belonged to group I. Muscular defects dominated in group I, perimembranous defects dominated in group II, and those with outlet extensions dominated in group III. Peak systolic RVP was obtained by Doppler-estimated difference between systolic brachial artery and peak gradient across the VSD. Initial RVP ranged between 15 and 95 mmHg and increased in parallel to the size of defect. According to the regression equations RVP decreased in general by 0.17 mmHg per month. This correlated significantly with the size of the defect. In group I, the rate of decrease was very fast and is best expressed by a log function of time (r=−0.67, r2= 0.45). In groups II and III the rate of decrease was less steep and had a greater variability. RVP normalized in 100% in those of group I and in 90% of group II, at median ages of 0.17 and 0.33 years, respectively. Median Qp:Qs values were 1.5, 2.2, and 3.0 in groups I–III, respectively. The outcome depended on the size of VSD. Spontaneous closure was observed in 51% of group I, 10% of group II, and none of group III. The rate was higher in muscular defects. Congestive heart failure was present in 53% and 100% in groups II and III, respectively. Death rate was 2.03%, all in patients with large defects. It is concluded that the temporal course of RVP with time can be estimated fairly well by the regression equation presented in relation to the initial size of the VSD.

Iatrogenic coarctation after coil occlusion of arterial duct.

Coil occlusion of a patent ductus arteriosus was performed in an 8.5-month-old girl with a large left-to-right shunt through a wide arterial duct. Post-occlusion echocardiography revealed iatrogenic obstruction of the aorta caused by protrusion of the loops of the Jackson coil into the descending aorta. The problem resolved spontaneously during follow-up.

Total correction of tetralogy of Fallot without “routine”preoperative cardiac catheterization—management of 99 patients

Between January 1989 and March 1993, total correction was performed in 99 patients with tetralogy of Fallot without submitting them to prior cardiac catheterization. The age of the patients ranged from 1.33 to 18 years (mean 5.33±3.77). After complete echocardiographic examination, the diameters of the right and left pulmonary arteries at the prebranching point and the descending thoracic aorta at the diaphragm were measured by cross-sectional echocardiography and the McGoon ratio was calculated. Total correction was performed in all patients with a McGoon ratio greater than 1.7. In none of the patients were the sizes of the pulmonary artery measured by echocardiography smaller than the measurements obtained during surgery. Transannular patching was performed in 76 patients. A conduit from the right ventricle to the pulmonary arteries was constructed in two patients with coronary arterial anomalies. Postrepair right ventricular to left ventricular systolic pressure ratios were between 0.25 and 0.85 (mean 0.54±0.13). There were two hospital deaths, neither being related to the diagnostic method used nor the criteria for surgery. We conclude that the diagnosis of tetralogy of Fallot together with measurements of pulmonary arteries and descending thoracic aorta can safely and reliably be achieved echocardiographically. The McGoon ratio can be adapted to echocardiography and total correction can be performed successfully based on echocardiographic examination.