Early and long-term results of ventricular septal defect repair in children with severe pulmonary hypertension and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance by the double or traditional patch technique.

Objectives: In upper-income countries, infants undergo low-risk ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair. Children in low- and middle-income countries frequently present at older ages with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Expensive interventions for pulmonary hypertensive crisis are not available, and children are often denied an operation due to the mortality risk.

Sildenafil's Early, Late Impact on Ventricular Septal Repair: Older Children Using the Double Patch.

Background: Delayed diagnosis in children with a ventricular septal defect (VSD) is common in low- and middle-income countries. Consequently, these children present with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The study investigators introduced the double-flap valve VSD patch closure technique (DFV) in 1996 to reduce early postoperative risk.