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Early Surgical Removal of Membranous Ventricular Septal Device Might Allow Recovery of Atrio-Ventricular Block

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Abstract

Complete atrio-ventricular heart block is a well-reported complication after percutaneous closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects. The incidence seems to be higher than after surgical closure. Early heart block can be transient and pacemaker implantation is not always required. Late heart block is also described. We describe two patients who both presented with complete atrio-ventricular block 4 days after device insertion. Surgical device removal was followed by a rapid and complete recovery of the atrio-ventricular conduction. Surgical device removal should be considered in cases of subacute heart block, as removal might result in recovery of the atrio-ventricular conduction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Cardiology, Hôpital la Timone-enfants, AP-HM, Marseille, France

    Caroline Ovaert, Andreea Dragulescu & Alain Fraisse

  2. Pediatric Cardiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCL, Brussels, Belgium

    Caroline Ovaert & Thierry Sluysmans

  3. Pediatric Cardiology Center, Policlinico San Donato, Milan, Italy

    Mario Carminati

Authors
  1. Caroline Ovaert
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  2. Andreea Dragulescu
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  3. Thierry Sluysmans
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  4. Mario Carminati
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  5. Alain Fraisse
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Correspondence to Caroline Ovaert.

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Ovaert, C., Dragulescu, A., Sluysmans, T. et al. Early Surgical Removal of Membranous Ventricular Septal Device Might Allow Recovery of Atrio-Ventricular Block. Pediatr Cardiol 29, 971–975 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-007-9142-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-007-9142-7

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