Abstract: Objective To introduce a new technique: transthoracic closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect (VSD) without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) under transesophageal echocardiography (TEE）guidance, and summarize the clinical experiences and midterm followup results. Methods A total of 136 patients with perimembranous VSD, 3 months to 15 years averaging 1.8 years, underwent transthoracic device closure. The weight of these patients ranged from 4.0 to 26.0 kg with an average weight of 12.7 kg. The diameter of their VSD ranged from 3 to 12 mm averaging 5.1 mm. A small transthoracic incision (34 cm incision by inferior sternotomy or 23 cm transverse incision in the third intercostal space) was made and the best location for right ventricular puncture was chosen and the delivery pathway was established under TEE guidance. Proper devices were delivered and then deployed to close the defect. Patients were followed up closely with a standard protocol, arranged for echocardiography, electrocardiogram and chest Xray film. Results In all the cases, 131 cases of VSD (96.3%) were successfully closed. The procedure time was less than 90 minutes and the implanting time was 5.42 minutes (16.3±5.7 min). Symmetrical devices were implanted into 89(67.9%) of the 131 patients and the other 42 patients (32.1%) were closed with asymmetrical ones. The result of TEE soon after operation showed that 3 patients had tiny residual shunt, 4 had new trivial and mild tricuspid regurgitation (TR). However, no TR worsening, aortic regurgitation (AR), complete atrioventricular heart block, or left or right outflow tract obstruction was detected in all patients. One patient 〖CM(159mm〗with transient atrioventricular block restored to sinus rhythm after 3 days of medical treatment. Five cases (3.7%) were converted to conventional open heart repair during the operation. Followup was done to all the patients for a period ranged from 6 months to 30 months (18.3±6.6 months). Tiny residual shunt in the 3 cases mentioned above vanished during the followup period. No new TR, AR, hemolysis, thrombosis, dislocation of the devices, or outflow stenosis was detected postoperatively. The tiny incision caused less psychologic depression. Conclusion Minimally invasive transthoracic device closure of VSD without CPB is a simple, effective and safe intervention under guidance of TEE for most of perimembranous VSD patients. The short and midterm clinical outcomes are promising. Longterm followup is indispensable.
Objective To investigate the operative procedure and the therapeutic effects of minimally invasive incision and percutaneous pinning in operative treatment of Gartland type III humeral supracondylar fracture in children. Methods From September 2002 to July 2009, 189 patients with Gartland type III humeral supracondylar fracture were treated with minimally invasive incision and percutaneous pinning. There were 137 males and 52 females, aged from 1 to 13 years (6.2 years on average). Injury was caused by sports in 173 cases, by traffic accident in 9 cases, by fall ing from height in 5 cases, and by earthquake in 2 cases. All fractures were closed fractures, compl icating others fracture in 11 cases, radial nerve injury in 36 cases, median nerve injury in 5 cases, ulnar nerve injury in 2 cases, and brachial artery injuryin 2 cases. The time from injury to hospital ization was 1 hour to 10 days. Neurovascular repair was performed at the same period. Results All incisions healed by first intention, no related compl ications occurred. A total of 143 patients were followed up 5 months to 5 years (12 months on average). X-ray films showed fracture healed within 2-4 months (2.5 months on average). Cubitus varus occurred in 6 cases, but the functions of elbow flexion and extension were good; 2 cases were given distal humeral wedge osteotomy and 4 cases continued keeping the functional training. According to the Flynn et al criteria, the results were excellent in 121 cases, good in 15 cases, and fair in 7 cases; the excellent and good rate was 95.1%. Only a small incision scar was found, the function returned to normal in the cases compl icated by nerve and blood vessel injury. Conclusion Minimally invasive incision and percutaneous pinning for operative treatment of Gartland type III humeral supracondylar fracture in children is a safe and effective surgical procedure, which has minimal trauma, short surgery time, quick recovery, simple operation, and can be effective in reducing the compl ications.
ObjectiveTo summarize the experiences of minimally invasive occlusion of ventricular septal defect (VSD) via small chest incision. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 131 infants with VSD in Hebei children's Hospital between March 2013 and September 2014, including 83 patients with perimembranous VSD, 24 patients with membranous aneurysm and 24 patients with intracristal VSD. There were 63 males and 68 females with a mean age of 35.28±29.22 months and a mean body weight of 14.56±7.47 kg. Before surgery, a multiple-section transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was employed to evaluate various parameters of the VSD. Under general anesthesia, a small incision was made to expose the right ventricle. Under TEE guidance, proper device was delivered and deployed to close the defect. Patients also received postoperative following-up by transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) at regular intervals. ResultsOne hundred twenty-nine patients were successfully performed operation. Two patients were converted to perform traditional surgical closure with cardiopulmonary bypass (cPB). concentric devices were used in 52 patients and eccentric devices were used in 77 patients. During the following-up (1-12 months) period, complications occurred in three patients. Massive pericardial effusion appeared and disappeared after pericardicentesis in one patient. The occlusion device was dislocated in the next day after operation and took out by cPB operation in one patient. There was an asymptomatic residual shunt at 1 mm in one patient. ConclusionThe minimally invasive occlusion of VSD via small chest incision is a safe and effective treatment. It should be encouraged to use in the clinical practice.