BACKGROUND: Percutaneous closure is currently the therapeutic method of choice for the treatment of small to moderate sized ventricular septal defects (VSD), all over the world. Despite the ease of use and the excellent short and mid-term results described by most of the authors, third-degree atrioventricular block developed in a small number of cases, making a different kind of device desirable. In this paper the authors present their initial experience with the Nit-OccludTM Lê VSD Spiral Coil (PFM, Cologne, Germany). Implant technique is described and some other technical considerations are made. METHOD: From October 2008 to May 2009 five patients older than two years of age and weighting over 15 kg were selected. They all had perimembranous VSDs diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography. RESULTS: Implant was possible in five patients. The male to female ratio was 4:1. Ages ranged from 10 to 50 years old. Aneurysms of the ventricular membranous septum were present in three cases. Right ventricular outlet diameter (effective orifice) ranged from 3 to 6 mm. There was only one immediate residual shunt that disappeared at the end of the first month. There was no bundle branch blocks or third-degree atrioventricular blocks. CONCLUSION: Despite the small number of cases and the short-term follow-up, perimembranous VSD percutaneous occlusion with the Nit-OccludTM Lê VSD Spiral Coil was safe and effective.
Heart septal defects, ventricular; Heart catheterization; Echocardiography; Prostheses and implants
