Retrograde closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect using muscular ventricular septal occluder: a single-center experience of a novel technique.

We herein report the advantages of retrograde ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure using a muscular VSD device for perimembranous VSDs. Perimembranous VSDs are conventionally closed by an antegrade technique (arteriovenous looping technique) using a patent ductus arteriosus or asymmetric perimembranous VSD device. However, we used a symmetrical muscular VSD device in all cases described in this report. Use of the antegrade technique for the first few patients with VSD resulted in prolonged procedural and fluoroscopic times and frequent slippage of the device into the right ventricle. Subsequent use of the retrograde technique shortened the procedural time and allowed for easier closure of the perimembranous VSD. We performed retrograde closure of perimembranous VSDs using a symmetrical muscular VSD device in 130 patients. We obtained a high rate of successful deployment (88.5%) and a low rate of complications (6.0%). We also achieved shorter procedural and fluoroscopic times than those associated with the antegrade technique.