Efficacy of catheter interventions in the early and very early postoperative period after CHD operation.

Background: Catheter interventions for residual lesions in the early postoperative period after CHD operations are still not established as a reliable treatment option.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our institutional experience of cardiac catheterisations and catheter interventions performed in the early postoperative period. We classified our patients into two groups. The "hyper" acute phase group - operation to cardiac catheterisation of ⩽7 days - and acute phase group - operation to cardiac catheterisation from 7 to 30 days.

Results: Of the 47 patients, catheter interventions were performed in 38 patients (81%). The success rate of the intervention was 96% in the acute phase group and 90% in the "hyper" acute phase group. The overall success rate was 95%. There were two self-limited complications in the acute phase group, but not in the "hyper" acute phase group. There were four cases of catheter interventions performed for a newly reconstructed aortic arch, and those procedures were also safe and effective.

Conclusions: Cardiac catheterisations and catheter interventions were safe and effective not only in the early postoperative period but also in the very early postoperative period. Catheter interventions for the left-sided heart in the early postoperative period were also safe and effective.