The Interventricular Septal Hematoma Following Surgical Correction of Ventricular Septal Defect in Infants: A Single-Center Experience.

Objective: To review and analyze the cases of interventricular septal hematoma (IVSH) following surgical correction of the ventricular septal defect (VSD) in infants in our center.

Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on five infants with IVSH after surgical correction of VSD in our center from January 2020 to January 2022. The general preoperative information and intraoperative and postoperative results were collected and analyzed.

Results: All five infants with VSD were repaired under cardiopulmonary bypass and occurred IVSH. The cardiac arrest occurred in one patient five hours after return to the intensive care unit (ICU). The patient's hemodynamics were difficult to maintain after cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the patient died. Two other patients had arrhythmia and unstable hemodynamics during the perioperative period, the hematoma puncture was performed, and the patients' symptoms lessened. Perioperative and postoperative echocardiography showed that the hematoma gradually was shrunk, and the hemodynamics became stable. The hemodynamics were stable in the remaining two infants during the perioperative period. No specific medical intervention was required other than clinical observation in these two patients. Finally, the four infants successfully were discharged with good clinical results.

Conclusion: IVSH is a rare complication of surgical repair of VSD. Prevention and early detection of IVSH during operation in infants with VSD are essential.