Follow-up After Percutaneous Device Closure of Ventricular Septal Defects

Ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are the most common congenital heart defects, accounting for 30-40% of congenital cardiac anomalies. They result from an abnormal opening in the interventricular septum, leading to left-to-right shunting. Clinical presentation depends on defect size and pulmonary vascular resistance, ranging from asymptomatic small defects to heart failure symptoms in infancy, with older children developing exercise intolerance or pulmonary hypertension.

Although surgical closure has long been the standard treatment, percutaneous transcatheter device closure has emerged as a less invasive alternative for selected VSD types, particularly muscular and suitable perimembranous defects. This approach offers comparable efficacy with reduced morbidity and shorter hospital stays.

This bicentric study aims to evaluate procedural success, complications, and short-term outcomes of percutaneous VSD closure in paediatric patients from Upper Egypt, providing essential data to guide clinical practice and quality improvement in tertiary cardiac centres.