Introduction
Ventricular septal defect is the most common cardiac defect and accounts
for 25% of all congenital heart diseases. Large ventricular septal
defects with excessive pulmonary blood flow are responsible for dyspnea,
feeding difficulties, poor growth, recurrent pulmonary infections, and
cardiac failure in early infancy. For these reasons, large ventricular
septal defects cause significant morbidity and mortality in infants
[1]. Surgical closure of ventricular septal defect is still the most
common pediatric cardiac surgical procedure. Recent advances in surgical
techniques and postoperative patient care have led to a reduction in
mortality and morbidity [2]. However, complications still occur, and
the risk factors associated with these complications must be identified
[3]. Some studies have found that low birth weight and young age
(<6 months) at the time of the operation are related to
morbidity [2]. However, this finding conradicts those reported in
some studies [4]. The aim of this study
was to evaluate the outcomes of
ventricular septal defect surgery in our center and to define the risk
factors of the complications of ventricular septal defect surgery.