Post-traumatic ventricular septal defects (VSD) can occur after acute MI or iatrogenically after invasive surgical procedures. Emergency surgery is associated with high perioperative mortality and postsurgical shunt in up to 20% of patients. Transcatheter closure (TCC) of post MI VSD may be an alternative that avoids the high risk of surgery. We report a lower mortality and morbidity than surgical closure in the post infarction VSD's even with a short interval between defect occurrence and percutaneous device placement. Furthermore, in patients with a failed or suboptimal surgical result adjunctive percutaneous closure may be beneficial and offers an alternative to redo VSD repair. Finally, in patients who suffer an unexpected traumatic VSD post surgical procedure, percutaneous closure offers an alternative with excellent results.
(c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.