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PubMed1975

Mitral valve prolapse and coronary artery disease. Clinical, hemodynamic, and angiographic correlations.

Among 95 patients with angina pectoris and angiographically documented coronary artery disease (CAD), prolapse of the scallops of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve (PLMV) was noted in 30 patients. Left ventriculograms in the right anterior oblique (RAO) projection revealed isolated prolapse of the posteromedial commissural scallop (PMCS) in 12 patients and the anterolateral commissural scallop (ALCS) in two patients. Seven patients had prolapse of both PMCS and ALCS, three had prolapse of the PMCS and middle scallop (MS), and six had prolapse of all three scallops of the PLMV. Left ventricular dilatation with increase trabeculations was observed in 19 patients. Contractility determined in a quantitative fashion by segmental motion analysis was markedly impaired in 29 patients. None of the patients had angiographic evidence of mitral insufficiency. Left ventricular dysfunction was documented in 28 patients by either elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), low cardiac index (CI) or decreased ejection fraction (EF). In two patients in whom left ventricular contractility improved after aortocoronary by pass, previously prolapsed scallops could not be identified in the postoperative ventriculogram. Prolapsed PLMV is a frequent angiographic finding in patients with angiographically observed CAD. Impaired contractility of the ventricular myocardium and papillary muscles, left ventricular dilatation, and hypertrophy appear to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of this abnormality through distortion of the directional axis of the papillary muscles, asynergic contraction of the related free wall of the left ventricle, and changes in the normal spatial alignment necessary for mitral valve closure. The syndrome of papillary muscle dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease represents a wider clinical spectrom than previously described.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Laparoscopic management of fallopian tube prolapse masquerading as adenocarcinoma of the vagina in a hysterectomized woman.

BACKGROUND: Fallopian tube prolapse as a complication of abdominal hysterectomy is a rare occurrence. A case with fallopian tube prolapse was managed by a combined vaginal and laparoscopic approach and description of the operative technique is presented. CASE PRESENTATION: A 39-year-old woman with vaginal prolapse of the fallopian tube after total abdominal hysterectomy presented with an incorrect diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the vaginal apex. The prolapsed tube and cystic ovary were removed by vaginal and laparoscopic approach. The postoperative course went well. CONCLUSIONS: Early or late fallopian tube prolapse can occur after total abdominal hysterectomy and vaginal hysterectomy. Symptoms consist of persistent blood loss or leukorrhea, dyspareunia and chronic pelvic pain. Vaginal removal of prolapsed tube with laparoscopic surgery may be a suitable treatment. The abdominal or vaginal approach used in surgical correction of prolapsed tubes must be decided in each case according to the patient's individual characteristics.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1978

The association between atrial septal defect and prolapse of the tricuspid valve. An echocardiographic study.

The echocardiograms of 52 patients with atrial septal defects were reviewed. Six patients were noted to have prolapse of the tricuspid valve. Three of these subjects had associated prolapse of the mitral valve. The diagnosis of tricuspid valvular prolapse was confirmed by angiograms in one patient. Four patients had midsystolic tricuspid valvular prolapse, and holosystolic prolapse of the tricuspid valve was observed in two. In one patient a striking increase in the degree of tricuspid valvular prolapse was noted after closure of the atrial septal defect. A concomitant increase in the degree of tricuspid regurgitation was noted after surgery. Aggravation of tricuspid valvular prolapse should be considered as one of the causes of clinical and hemodynamic deterioration in the condition of a patient following repair of an atrial septal defect.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Microendoscopic discectomy for prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar disc prolapse is a common problem and the current surgical standard for its treatment is a microsurgical discectomy. Microendoscopic discectomy (MED) is a minimally invasive spinal procedure being done successfully for prolapsed intervertebral disc disease. AIMS: We report the technique, outcome and complications seen in 107 cases of prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc who underwent MED. SETTING AND DESIGN: The study was carried out at the Department of Neurosurgery, at a tertiary hospital in South India and the data was collected prospectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 107 patients with prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc who were seen at our institution between November 2002 and January 2006 were included in the study. Data was collected prospectively. The METRx system (Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Memphis,TN) was used to perform MED. Outcome assessment was done by the modified Macnab criteria. RESULTS: 107 patients (67 males, 40 females) underwent MED for prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc. Follow up ranged from 2 to 40 months with a mean follow up 12.9 months. Seventy six patients had an excellent outcome, 22 patients had a good outcome, 5 patients had a fair outcome and 3 patients had a poor outcome. One patient with a long dural tear required conversion to a standard microdiscectomy and was excluded from outcome assessment. Complications included dural puncture with K-wire (1), dural tear (2), superficial wound infection (1), discitis (1) and recurrent disc prolapse (2). CONCLUSIONS: Microendoscopic Discectomy (MED) is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Vaginal topography does not correlate well with visceral position in women with pelvic organ prolapse.

The objective was to determine whether vaginal topography accurately predicts the location of the pelvic viscera on fluoroscopy in women with pelvic organ prolapse. Eighty-nine women undergoing preoperative evaluation for reconstructive pelvic surgery at a tertiary care referral practice formed the study population. Each woman completed a comprehensive urogynecologic history and physical examination, which included a quantified (POP-Q) assessment of her vaginal topography, as described by Bump et al. In addition each woman underwent pelvic floor fluoroscopy (PFF). Visceral sites were selected which corresponded clinically to the vaginal sites measured by the POP-Q. The most dependent portion of the bladder, small intestine, rectum and urethrovesical junction was measured. Twenty-five (28%) women had stage II prolapse, 34 (38%) had stage III prolapse, and 28 (32%) had stage IV prolapse. The remaining 2 women were symptomatic, with stage I prolapse. For the entire study population there was no correlation between the fluoroscopic position of the small bowel and/or rectum and any apical or posterior wall POP-Q site (C, Ap or Bp). There was no correlation with the fluoroscopic position of the UVJ at rest or with straining and the corresponding POP-Q site (Aa). The fluoroscopic position of the most dependent portion of the bladder correlated only modestly with the upper (Ba, rho = 0.51) and lower Aa, rho = 0.68) anterior vaginal wall POP-Q sites. In women without prior surgery (n = 33) there was only modest correlation between the fluoroscopic position of the bladder and the corresponding POP-Q site (Aa, rho = 0.71). In this unoperated subpopulation there was no correlation with PFF and any other POP-Q site. In women who had undergone prior hysterectomy (n = 25) or hysterectomy with anterior and/or posterior colporrhaphy (n = 17), there was only a modest correlation of the most dependent portion of the bladder and the upper anterior vaginal wall site (Bb, rho = 0.67 and rho = 0.55, respectively). It was concluded that vaginal topography does not reliably predict the position of the associated viscera on PFF in women with primary or recurrent pelvic organ prolapse.

Female↗
PubMed1980

Two dimensional echocardiography in mitral, aortic and tricuspid valve prolapse. The clinical problem, cardiac nuclear imaging considerations and a proposed standard for diagnosis.

The mitral valve prolapse syndrome may present with a variety of clinical manifestations and has proved to be a common cause of nonspecific cardiac symptoms in clinical practice. Primary and secondary forms must be distinguished. Myxomatous degeneration appears to be the common denominator of the primary form. The diagnostic standard of this form has not previously been defined because the detection of mitral leaflet tissue in the left atrium (prolapse) on physical examination or angiography is nonspecific. M mode echocardiography has greatly enhanced the recognition of this syndrome but has not proved to be the best diagnostic standard because of its limited view of mitral valve motion. The advent of two dimensional echocardiography has provided the potential means for specific identification of the mitral leaflet motion in systole and can be considered the diagnostic standard for this syndrome. Primary myxomatous degeneration with leaflet prolapse is not localized to the mitral valve. Two dimensional echocardiography has detected in preliminary studies tricuspid valve prolapse in up to 50 percent and aortic valve prolapse in about 20 percent of patients with idiopathic mitral valve prolapse.

Angiocardiography↗
PubMed1997

Fecal incontinence in women with urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of and factors associated with fecal incontinence in women with urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse. METHODS: Study subjects were recruited prospectively, and all participants received questionnaires regarding bowel function and underwent a standardized history and physical examination. Fecal incontinence was defined as the involuntary loss of feces sufficient to be considered a problem by the patient. RESULTS: Forty-two subjects had fecal incontinence, an overall prevalence of 17%. One hundred seventy women had urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, or both, and 36 of these (21%) had fecal incontinence. One hundred (40%) women had urinary incontinence, of whom 31 also had fecal incontinence. Seventy women had isolated pelvic organ prolapse and five (7%) were incontinent of feces. Univariate analysis revealed that any degree of pelvic organ prolapse, increasing degrees of prolapse within each vaginal segment, urinary incontinence, advanced age, postmenopausal status, increased vaginal parity, prior hysterectomy, history of irritable bowel syndrome, and abnormal sphincter tone were associated significantly with fecal incontinence. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that only urinary incontinence (odds ratio [OR] 4.6, P < .001, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9, 11.2), abnormal anal sphincter tone (OR 2.3, P = .04, 95% CI 1.1, 5.1), and irritable bowel syndrome (OR 8.3, P = .002, 95% CI 2.1, 32.8) were associated with fecal incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high rate of fecal incontinence in women with urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Clinicians providing health care to a similar group of women should inquire routinely and specifically about fecal incontinence.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Vaginal vault suspension by abdominal sacral colpopexy for prolapse: a follow up study of 40 patients.

OBJECTIVES: Vaginal vault prolapse is a rare event after hysterectomy. Vaginal repair often results in a narrowed and shortened vagina with diminished function. Abdominal sacral colpopexy attaches the vaginal apex to the sacral promontory and restores the physiological position of the vagina. The objective of the study was to evaluate follow up results of the abdominal sacral colpopexy in 40 patients by a questionnaire and a gynaecologic examination. METHODS: We performed a cohort study. Between 1992 and 1998, 45 consecutive patients with a vaginal vault prolapse treated with an abdominal sacral colposcopy were included. RESULTS: Forty patients were included in the study. No serious complications occurred during surgery. Two patients per- or postoperative hemorrhage required blood transfusion. In two patients, one with a concomittant hysterectomy, the Gore-tex graft infected within 3 months after the operation. If vaginal 'protrusion' was the only preoperative complaint, in 93% (13/14) of the cases, surgery resulted in a condition without any complaint, related to the vaginal prolapse. If initially a combination of complaints (vaginal protrusion, urinary incontinence, defecation problems, sexual dysfunction) was the reason for surgery, only ten of 27 (37%) patients were symptom-free at follow up (P=0.002, Yates corrected). In the whole group 34 (85%) patients noticed before the operation a feeling of vaginal protrusion. At follow-up, 23 patients (56%) had no symptoms at all that could be related to the vaginal prolapse. Problems concerning defecation, like constipation were present before surgery in eight patients. In six of them, these complaints were resolved after surgery. However, in five patients de novo constipation developed after surgery. There were no cases of de novo urinary incontinence. At gynaecological examination in three patients, the vaginal vault prolapse recurred within the follow-up period, accounting for a success rate of 93%. In ten more patients a moderate enterorectocele developed or persisted. No reoperations were performed for that reason. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal sacral colpopexy is a safe and efficacious treatment of the posthysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse. To prevent the persistence or development of an enterorectocele, a culdoplasty according to Halban or McCall might possibly be helpful. Peritonisation of the graft seems not to be necessary. The use of banked collagen tissue as graft material is promising and needs further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Observations upon the aetiology and treatment of complete rectal prolapse.

The classical abnormalities found in patients with complete rectal prolapse--wide deep pelvic peritoneal pouch, unsupported redundant rectum with long mesorectum, weak pelvic floor and anal sphincters--are probably effects rather than causes. "Pelvic floor weakness" must explain few cases, since old age, multiparity, uterine prolapse, are found in a minority. The fact that operations which do no more than fix the rectum in the sacral hollow are most successful and often cure incontinence if present is the best evidence that lack of support of the rectum is a prime cause of prolapse--but it is equally likely that such operations work by preventing intussusception, now regarded as the likely mechanism (rather than sliding herniation) of complete rectal prolapse. It is suggested that rectal prolapse is usually due to straining at defaecation against a closed levator-ani--anal-sphincter mechanism, producing prolapse of the rectum rather than incontinence of faeces. Such straining may be obsessive on the part of patients with psychosocial problems and reduced awareness that the rectum is empty; or it may be due to attempted defaecation with a full rectum in patients with reduced rectal sensation, failure of the afferent arc of the ano-rectal reflex and consequent absence of levator-ani--anal-sphincter relaxation.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Concurrent genital and rectal prolapse: two pathologies--one joint operation.

This study is a prospective assessment of a joint operation to repair concomitant genital and rectal prolapse, including 10 women treated for concomitant genital and rectal prolapse from 1991 to 1995. Joel-Cohen vaginal hysterectomy was used to correct the genital prolapse, followed by the Altemeier procedure (transperineal rectosigmoidectomy) to correct the rectal prolapse. The post-operative course was uneventful in all cases and there were no recurrences of prolapse in the three year follow up period. Improvement of sphincteric tone was shown in all cases by transrectal manometry, and bladder and rectal continence was maintained. The combined surgical procedure for concurrent genital and rectal prolapse is easy to perform and safe and efficient in terms of recurrence and continence. It is hoped this report will increase multidisciplinary awareness of an effective solution for a potentially debilitating problem.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

[Genital prolapse in elderly women (150 cases) (author's transl)].

A series of 150 operations, by the same surgeon, for genital prolapse in women over 60 years of age (range to 85 years), represented 36% of the total number of operations for prolapse performed. A total of 32 women had had previous prolapse operations, 24 developed prolapse after hysterectomy, and 11 had postoperative colpoceles. This means that 45% had iatrogenic lesions, term in fashion at the present time but which strongly emphasizes the role played by insufficiently defined operative indications, and operations conducted without sufficient rigour. The most frequent lesions, were firstly cystoceles, then external prolapses, followed by hysteroceles. Urinary incontinence was evident in 15%, and potential in at least 10% of continent women. The lower approach was employed for the operation, either obturating or conservative, in most cases. When the upper approach was used, this was mainly for pathogenic purposes, and adapted to the lesion. Overall results were excellent, and only two irreversible accidents occurred. Recurrences were mainly in the form of cystoceles, micturition disorders, or sometimes rectocele sequelae. Increased life-span and improved operative treatment should make the surgery of prolapse in elderly women even more effective.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

The use of prophylactic Stamey bladder neck suspension to prevent post-operative stress urinary incontinence in clinically continent women undergoing genitourinary prolapse repair.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of Stamey bladder neck suspension in preventing post-perative stress urinary incontinence in clinically continent women undergoing surgery for genitourinary prolapse. Thirty clinically continent women with severe genitourinary prolapse were found to have a positive stress test with re-positioning of the prolapse. They all had significant urethrovesical junction hypermobility. In addition to the genitourinary prolapse repair, these patients underwent a prophylactic Stamey procedure to prevent the possible development of post-operative stress urinary incontinence. The mean duration of follow-up was 8+/-4.5 months (range, 3-19 months). Seven (23.30%) patients developed overt post-operative stress urinary incontinence that was confirmed urodynamically. Eleven (36.7%) other patients denied stress incontinence; however, post-operative urodynamics demonstrated sphincteric incontinence. Post-operative complications were uncommon and minor. In conclusion, continent patients with a positive stress test demonstrated on re-positioning of the prolapse during pre-operative urodynamic evaluation are considered to be at high risk of developing post-operative stress urinary incontinence. In these patients, an additional, effective anti-incontinence procedure should be considered during surgical correction of genitourinary prolapse. The Stamey procedure, although simple and safe, does not appear to be the optimal solution to this clinical problem.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) for the treatment of occult stress urinary incontinence in women undergoing prolapse repair: a prospective study of 100 consecutive cases.

AIMS: Clinically continent women with genitourinary prolapse and occult stress urinary incontinence (SUI) are considered to be at high risk of developing symptomatic SUI once the prolapse is repaired. We studied the efficacy and safety of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure in preventing postoperative SUI in these women. METHODS: One hundred consecutive women (mean age 66.7 +/- 9.9 years) with significant genitourinary prolapse and occult SUI were prospectively enrolled. Preoperatively, none of the women complained of SUI. However, all had urodynamically-confirmed occult SUI, revealed by repositioning of the prolapse. Surgical intervention was comprised of transvaginal prolapse repair and prophylactic TVT procedure. Main outcome end points included operative morbidity, postoperative SUI, persistent or de novo urge incontinence, and voiding dysfunction. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 27 months (range: 12-52 months). There was only one case of technique-related bladder perforation with no adverse outcome. Two other patients had postoperative urinary retention necessitating catheterization for more than 7 days, none of whom required any surgical intervention. Vaginal erosion of the tape was diagnosed in three patients, all of whom were successfully treated by excision of the eroded tape. Two (2%) patients developed urodynamically-confirmed SUI within 1 year postoperatively. However, postoperative urodynamics revealed asymptomatic sphincteric incontinence in 15 (15%) other patients. Thirteen (72%) of 18 patients with preoperative urge incontinence had postoperative persistent urge incontinence. De novo urge incontinence developed postoperatively in 8 (8%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: TVT procedure is effective and safe in patients with occult SUI undergoing prolapse repair. Long-term durability of this procedure is yet to be established.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Interobserver variation in the assessment of pelvic organ prolapse.

The aim of this study was to determine the interobserver agreement of two grading systems for pelvic organ prolapse: the vaginal profile and the International Continence Society (ICS) draft proposal. Forty-nine consecutive women referred for evaluation of urinary incontinence and/or pelvic organ prolapse were studied. Patients were first examined by a physician and a nurse clinician using the vaginal profile, followed by an examination according to the technique described in the ICS draft proposal for standardization of terminology (1994). kappa statistic and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used to determine interobserver variability for the ICS system by overall stage, by stage-specific comparison, and by specific anatomic location. The vaginal profile was evaluated by obtaining a kappa for overall degree of prolapse, stage-specific comparison and by anatomic area. The kappa for the ICS stage was 0.79 (P < 0.001), and the kappa for the vaginal profile by area of greatest prolapse was 0.68 (P < 0.001), indicating substantial interobserver agreement for both systems. The ICS system was noted to have substantial interobserver agreement by a stage-specific comparison. All anatomic locations of the ICS staging system were found to correlate significantly, and a high degree of interobserver precision was found. The vaginal profile also showed significant interobserver agreement by overall degree of prolapse, by specific degree of prolapse, and by anatomic area. It was concluded that both the proposed ICS staging system and the traditional vaginal profile show significant interobserver agreement both by overall stage, stage-specific analysis and specific location. The registered nurse examination correlated well with the physician examination, indicating that the most important factor in obtaining reproducible results may be definition and close attention to examination technique.

Female↗
PubMed1998

Videocystourethrography with a ring pessary in situ. A clinically useful preoperative investigation for continent women with urogenital prolapse?

The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of a vaginal pessary in the detection of genuine stress incontinence (GSI) in women with urogenital prolapse undergoing urodynamic investigation. Continent women with urogenital prolapse, with or without associated urinary symptoms, were studied. All underwent videocystourethrography using a standardized protocol. None had evidence of incontinence on provocative testing in the upright position. A well-fitting vaginal ring pessary was inserted to reduce the prolapse and mimic a vaginal repair. The provocative tests were then repeated while the bladder was screened. Seventy women with a mean age 59.0 years (range 34-83) were recruited over a 21-month period: 15 women complained of prolapse alone and 55 had concurrent urinary symptoms; 19 women (27%) developed GSI only following the insertion of a vaginal pessary. The women who became incontinent were significantly older (mean age 63.9 years) than those who remained continent (mean age 56.8 years) (P < 0.020). The use of a vaginal pessary increases the detection rate of GSI in continent women with urogenital prolapse undergoing videocystourethrography. These findings are important because women with prolapse and coexisting incontinence should be offered a continence procedure rather than a simple vaginal repair.

Female↗
PubMed1993

Ripstein procedure is an effective treatment for rectal prolapse without constipation.

The operation of choice for complete rectal prolapse is controversial. We reviewed 169 patients undergoing 185 surgical procedures for rectal prolapse over a 27-year period. The most common surgical procedure employed was the Ripstein procedure (n = 142) and is the focus of this report. Other surgical procedures used included resection rectopexy (n = 18), anterior resection (n = 7), Altemeier's (n = 9), Delorme's (n = 2), and anal encirclement (n = 7). The median age was 59 years (range, 12-94 years), and the female-to-male ratio was 5:1. The incidence of fecal incontinence, solitary rectal ulcer syndrome, and prior surgery elsewhere for rectal prolapse was 40 percent, 12 percent, and 19 percent, respectively. Operative mortality was 0.6 percent; morbidity was 16 percent. Median follow-up was 4.2 years (range, 1-15 years). Complete recurrence of prolapse after the Ripstein procedure was 8 percent; one-third of these patients recurred 3 to 14 years after surgery. Fecal incontinence improved after the Ripstein procedure or resection rectopexy in about half the patients. Persistence of prior constipation was more common after the Ripstein procedure than after resection rectopexy (57 percent vs. 17 percent; P = 0.03, chi-squared). Fifteen patients developed constipation for the first time after the Ripstein procedure. About one in three patients, irrespective of surgical procedures, remained dissatisfied with the final outcome despite anatomic correction of the prolapse. The Ripstein procedure has proven to be a safe procedure with good anatomic repair of the prolapse and may improve continence. In the presence of constipation, procedures other than the Ripstein procedure may be preferable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Pudendal nerve terminal motor latency influences surgical outcome in treatment of rectal prolapse.

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to document the effect of pudendal nerve function on anal incontinence after repair of rectal prolapse. METHODS: Patients with full rectal prolapse (n = 24) were prospectively evaluated by anal manometry and pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML) before and after surgical correction of rectal prolapse (low anterior resection (LAR; n = 13) and retrorectal sacral fixation (RSF; n = 11)). RESULTS: Prolapse was corrected in all patients; there were no recurrences during a mean 25-month follow-up. Postoperative PNTML was prolonged bilaterally (> 2.2 ms) in six patients (3 LAR; 3 RSF); five patients were incontinent (83 percent). PNTML was prolonged unilaterally in eight patients (4 LAR; 4 RSF); three patients were incontinent (38 percent). PNTML was normal in five patients (3 LAR; 2 RSF); one was incontinent (20 percent). Postoperative squeeze pressures were significantly higher for patients with normal PNTML than for those with bilateral abnormal PNTML (145 vs. 66.5 mmHg; P = 0.0151). Patients with unilateral abnormal PNTML had higher postoperative squeeze pressures than those with bilateral abnormal PNTML, but the difference was not significant (94.8 vs. 66.5 mmHg; P = 0.3182). The surgical procedure did not affect postoperative sphincter function or PNTML. CONCLUSION: Injury to the pudendal nerve contributes to postoperative incontinence after repair of rectal prolapse. Status of anal continence after surgical correction of rectal prolapse can be predicted by postoperative measurement of PNTML.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Ventricular septal defect in Chinese with aortic valve prolapse and aortic regurgitation.

The incidence of aortic valve prolapse and aortic regurgitation (AR) among Chinese with ventricular septal defect (VSD) has not been studied, and controversies still exist regarding optimal surgical treatment and timing of operation for this condition. A prospective study of 332 consecutive patients with VSD showed that aortic valve prolapse and AR occurred in 43 (11.9%) patients. Valve lesions occurred more commonly among patients with subpulmonic VSD (28.0%) than with subaortic VSD (8.8%) (P less than 0.005). A retrospective study of another 306 patients revealed that 37 (12.1%) had valve complications. Of the 80 patients with valve lesions, 60 were males and 20 were females. The youngest ages of prolapse and AR in subpulmonic VSD were 7 months and 3 years 8 months, respectively; those in subaortic VSD were 2 years and 3 years 6 months, respectively. Valve prolapse occurred mostly before the age of 6-10 years, leading progressively to AR. The coronary cusps prolapsed in subpulmonic VSD were limited to the right cusp; and those in subaortic VSD were the right cusp, noncoronary cusp, or both. The magnitude of left-to-right shunts was small and the pulmonary artery pressure was normal in the majority of patients. Seventy-two patients underwent open-heart closure of the VSD, with additional valvuloplasty in 15 and valve replacement in three patients. It is concluded that Chinese with VSD are prone to develop aortic valve complications. Surgical closure of the subpulmonic VSD may restore the prolapsed valve to normal. Closure of the subaortic VSD has little effect. Valvuloplasty in subaortic VSD may palliate AR, but in all probability cannot restore valve competency.

Adolescent↗