Residuae, sequelae, and complications of surgery for congenital heart disease

Abstract

Definitive, if not curative surgery is available for the eight most common congenital cardiac defects-ductus arteriosus, ASD, coarctation, pulmonary valve stenosis, aortic valve stenosis, tetralogy of Fallot, and transposition. The results of surgery for uncomplicated cases of DA, ASD, VSD, and coarctation usually can be determined by clinical means (including chest radiogram and ECG). Postoperative heart catheterization is recommended for evaluation of the patient who has had surgery for pulmonary valve stenosis or artic stenosis and is necessary after tetralogy of Falot or transposition of the great arteries repair to identify the important postoperrative residua and sequelae. The term "curative" surgery probably shoud be reserved for operation for divion of ductus arteriosus unassociated with pulmonary hypertension and performed in childhood. After closure of ASD, patients should continue to be observed for late development of arrhythmias and persistent cardiac enlargement, although the incidence of these problems is low. After VSD closure the patient is still followed at intervals for possible ill effects of the ventriculotomy scar, manifest as arrhythmias, ventricular aneurysm or myocardial insufficiency. The patient with coarctation repair must be observed for a possible late complication from one of the several clinically silent cardiovascular or cerebrovascular anomalies as well as for the change of restenosis or unrelieved hypertension...