• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.591-594
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• 1993

To clarify the apparent hypoplasia of the descending aorta in infants with atrioventricular septal defect[AVSD] patients, we reviewed the catheterization data and angiograms of 34 consecutive patients with AVSD less than 1 year of age who underwent repair at our institution since 1985. We compared them to 10 patients with Atrial Septal Defect[ASD] and 10 patients with Ventricular Septal Defect[VSD] who were matched for age, size and Qp/Qs. The Descending Aorta Index [DAI] of the AVSD group was not different from the VSD or ASD groups, [147.9$\pm$ 34.8 mm2/m2 versus 158.6$\pm$ 31.5 mm2/m2 and 153.2$\pm$ 43.1 mm2/m2].However, the Pulmonary Artery Index [PAI] of the AVSD group was significantly larger than the other groups [684.3$\pm$ 170.7 mm2/m2 versus 454.1$\pm$ 109.1 mm2/m2 and 534.9$\pm$ 148.4 mm2/m2][p<0.05], as was the ratio of PAI/DAI in the AVSD group [4.99$\pm$ 1.77 versus 2.89$\pm$ 0.81 and 3.6$\pm$ 0.92][p<0.05]. Despite similar Qp/Qs ratios, both the mean PA pressure and the Rp/Rs in the AVSD group was higher than the VSD and ASD groups: 43.1$\pm$ 15.6 mmHg versus 29$\pm$ 11.6 mmHg and 24$\pm$ 18.1 mmHg [p<0.05], and 0.27$\pm$ 0.22 versus 0.14$\pm$ 0.03 and 0.11$\pm$ 0.05 [p<0.05] respectively. The apparent hypoplasia of the descending aorta in infants with AVSD is an illusion created by the abnormally large pulmonary arteries, which are significantly larger than in patients with ASDs or VSDs.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.63-66
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• 2010

Apical muscular ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are relatively rare conditions among all the different types of VSDs. Apical VSDs are difficult to treat because of they are difficult to visualize through a trans-atrioventricular approach, and especially in infants. Treatment by left ventriculotomy is associated with long-term ventricular dysfunction. Catheter-based intervention still shows less than satisfactory results and this type of intervention may not be possible in small infants. This report describes the benefits of right apical ventriculotomy in terms of successful closure of the lesion without harming the ventricular function.