Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the persistence of one or more holes in the septum that separates the left and right ventricles of the heart. VSD is the most common congenital heart defect. Left untreated, VSD may be associated with congestive heart failure, pulmonary vascular disease and an increased risk of infective endocarditis.
The cause of congenital VSD is unknown. Most infants have small VSDs that are asymptomatic and that usually close spontaneously after birth. However, if a VSD is large, surgical closure may be recommended.
In adults, a VSD may be acquired as a complication of a myocardial infarction or trauma. These are generally muscular VSDs and therefore not addressed in this guidance.
In transcatheter endovascular closure of perimembranous VSD, a guidewire is introduced into the femoral artery and vein in the groin, to establish an arteriovenous wire loop. A delivery sheath is advanced over the wire across the VSD, via the right or left side of the heart. Echocardiographic and fluoroscopic guidance are used to guide the occluder device as it is advanced through the delivery sheath and expanded to close the defect.
Sections 2.3 and 2.4 describe efficacy and safety outcomes from the published literature that the Committee considered as part of the evidence about this procedure. For more detailed information on the evidence, see the overview.
A non-randomised comparative study of 2,178 patients reported immediately successful closure rates of 99.8% (850 out of 852) in patients treated by the procedure and 100% in patients treated by surgical closure (difference reported as 'not significant').
Case series of 430, 412, 210 and 186 patients reported final follow-up closure rates of 83% (absolute figures not stated), 97% (398 out of 412), 97% (200 out of 206) and 98% (175 out of 178) respectively at follow-ups ranging from 1 postoperative day to 1 year. In the same case series, immediate closure rates of 40% (absolute figures not stated), 93% (382 out of 412), 35% (72 out of 206) and 92% (172 out of 186) were reported respectively.
In the non-randomised comparative study of 2,178 patients treated by the procedure or surgical closure, residual shunts were reported in 0.5% (4 out of 852) and 0.6% (8 out of 1,326) of patients respectively (difference reported as 'not significant').
The Specialist Advisers listed key efficacy outcomes as successful closure of VSD, symptomatic improvement post procedure, abolition of left-to-right interventricular blood flow and reduction in left ventricular diastolic diameter.
The case series of 430 patients reported that 1 patient with multiple VSDs died during the procedure from cardiac arrest after a second occluder was implanted. A prospective register of 160 patients treated by the procedure reported 3 postoperative deaths: 1 after additional surgery for complications that occurred during the procedure (timing of event not stated), 1 at 476 postoperative days and 1 at 536 postoperative days.
Device embolisation rates of 1% (4 out of 430), 2% (2 out of 100) and 4% (2 out of 54) were reported in case series of 430, 100 and 65 patients respectively. In the case series of 430 patients, all devices were retrieved (1 by open surgery).
The non-randomised study of 2,178 patients reported failure of occlusion associated with tricuspid regurgitation in 1 patient treated by the procedure who subsequently required cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass.
The same study reported third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block in 1 patient treated by the procedure; this patient needed cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass 3 days after the procedure. In addition, second-degree AV block was reported in 2 patients treated by the procedure but this changed to first-degree AV block at 4 and 5 days respectively.
Case series of 430, 186, 182 and 100 patients reported the occurrence of complete AV block in 4% (16 out of 430), 1% (2 out of 186), 1% (1 out of 182) and 2% (2 out of 100) of patients respectively. Of these 21 patients, 2 had surgery, 12 were fitted with a permanent pacemaker, 1 was fitted with a temporary pacemaker and 6 were managed medically.
The non-randomised comparative study of 2,178 patients reported left bundle branch block in 0.4% (3 out of 852) of patients treated by the procedure.
The Specialist Advisers listed theoretical adverse events as device displacement or misplacement, cardiac tamponade, interference with the mitral or aortic valve (specifically including aortic incompetence), venous bleeding, the need to convert to open surgery, and alteration to the morphology of the heart which may become more pronounced with growth.
The Committee noted that there is a lack of evidence comparing the incidence of heart block following this procedure with that following open surgery for VSD.