[Surgical treatment of interventricular communication with aortic insufficiency. Apropos of 5 cases].
The results of surgery on five patients aged between 4 and 14 years old with ventricular septal defect (VSD) and aortic incompetence (AI) are reported. Four of the five patients had massive AI, the diastolic blood pressure being 0 in 3 cases. All patients underwent catheterisation and angiography. In 1 case, an aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva bulging into the infundibulum was detected. At operation, 3 infra-cristal, 1 supra cristal and 1 unclassified VSD were observed. Prolapse of the aortic cusps was present in three cases, and in two cases these lesions were complicated by infective endocarditis. Three patients were managed by a slightly modified version of Trusler's aortic valvuloplasty, and the two patients with endocarditis underwent aortic valve replacement. The VSD was closed by Dacron patch in 3 cases and directly in 2 cases. The immediate postoperative period was complicated in one case by haemorrage due to anticoagulant therapy causing tamponade and paraplegia. In the other four cases, there were no complications. The results of valvuloplasty were good with complete regression of the diastolic murmur. The medium-term results were good, with a maximum follow-up period of 21 months. One of the patients with an aortic valve prosthesis has minimal AI, probably due to a paravalvular leak. A number of points are discussed with respect to this small series of patients: anatomy, techniques, indications. The modified Trusler's valvuloplasty is recommended, even in cases of severe AI.