Periventricular closure of a perimembranous VSD: treatment option in selected patients.

Ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are a common congenital heart disease. Usually, surgical repair with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is the treatment of choice, whereas percutaneous techniques have technical limitations, predominantly a mismatch of catheter size and body weight. A 7-year-old girl underwent periventricular closure of a perimembranous VSD on the beating heart. Echocardiography guided implantation through a minimally invasive sternotomy was uneventful. The described approach adds favorably to the current practice avoiding the use of CPB. Cosmetic aspect and rapid early postoperative recovery are convincing. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.