Clinical Experience of Transcatheter Closure for Ventricular Septal Defects in Children Weighing under 15 kg

Background: Failure to thrive and poor weight gain are the main problems associated with ventricular septal defects complicated by heart failure in pediatric patients. Recent advances in transcatheter closure have enabled safe and effective interventions in these patients. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe our experience with transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defects in young children with low weight. Methods: Pediatric patients weighing < 15 kg who underwent transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defects between January 2018 and December 2019 at our hospital were retrospectively enrolled. Results: Twelve patients were enrolled: one with a muscular defect, two with outlet defects, and nine with perimembranous defects. Their median age was 24 (7-60) months, and their median weight before the procedure was 11.8 kg (4.7-14.9 kg; mean Z-score:-1.3). The median precordial echocardiographic defect diameter was 5.6 (2.0-9.3) mm. Successful transcatheter closure was achieved in 11 cases. The mean weight at 1-month follow-up after defect closure was 13.5 kg (6.2-19.8 kg; mean Z-score:-0.2). The mean length of hospitalization was 2.7 days. Conclusions: This study highlights the potential safety and therapeutic efficacy of transcatheter ventricular septal defect closure in infants with low weight. Considerable weight gain and heart failure symptom attenuation at 1 month after transcatheter closure were observed.