Surgical technique to reduce the risks of heart block following closure of ventricular septal defect in atrioventricular discordance.

Traumatic heart block remains a major concern after ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure in patients with atrioventricular discordance. A technique of closing the VSD, placing the suture line on the morphologically right side of the septum without opening the systemic ventricle, is described. This was used in 13 consecutive patients. The VSD was closed through the right atrium in eight patients, the left ventricle in three patients, the right atrium and the left ventricle in one patient, and through the right ventricle in one patient with atrioventricular disordance and ventriculo-arterial concordance. All patients were in sinus rhythm preoperatively, two exhibited atrioventricular dissociation before intracardiac manipulation began, and 11 patients were in sinus rhythm postoperatively. No major arrhythmia could be attributed to the closure of the VSD.