Ventricular septal defect post-surgical prognosis

• The operative mortality for an elective repair is less than 2%.

• It is increased by the presence of associated anomalies, multiple defects, or if there is severe pulmonary hypertension.

• Late follow-up shows that their life expectancy is restored to that of age matched controls (except in those over the age of three with severe pulmonary hypertension).

• There is a residual defect in 14% to 25% of patients which is hemodynamically insignificant

• A persistent RBBB in the majority of patients due to disruption of the Purkinje fibers.

• In patients over 3 at the time of the operation, there is often residual and progressive pulmonary hypertension and or residual ventricular dysfunction.

• The risk of endocarditis following closure is similar to that in the general population. Because small defects are frequent, antibiotic prophylaxis is still recommended.

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