Ventricular septal defects in adults: 15 years of surgical experience in a single Colombian cardiovascular center

To review the surgical experience with ventricular septal defects in adults in Colombia. Descriptive, retrospective study of surgically repaired patients between 1995 and 2010. Clinical, echocardiographic, hemodynamic, and surgical findings were related to hospital and outpatient outcomes. Fifty-two patients were analyzed (mean age 29.3 ± 9.9 years, 54% women). Ventricular septal defects were classified, according to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, as type 2 (membranous, 84.6%), type 1 (subarterial, 13.5%), and type 3 (inlet, 1.9%). Dyspnea, Qp/Qs ≥ 2, and pulmonary hypertension were the most common indications for surgery. No peri-operative deaths were found. Outpatient mean follow-up was 2.7 ± 3.6 years and was possible for 90% of the original cohort and late mortality was 5% (one case). Despite that residual ventricular septal defects (29%) were frequent, no patient required surgical re-intervention for this reason. Improvements in functional class and pulmonary artery systolic pressure were also observed. Surgical closure of ventricular septal defects in adults is a safe procedure without early mortality and a low complications index. Residual ventricular septal defects underline the need for life-long follow-up.