OBJECTIVETo summarize the experience in surgical treatment of residual shunt after repair of ventricular septal defect and investigate the position of the residual shunts.

METHODSBetween January 1979 and May 2003, re-operations on residual shunt after repair of ventricular septal defect were performed in 37 patients with congenital heart disease including ventricular septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot, double outlet right ventricle in 19, 17 and 1 patients, respectively. It accounted for 0.21% (37/18000) of open heart operations performed during these years. The patients included 26 males and 11 females with age from 3 months to 53 years (mean 16 +/- 12 years). The residual shunt was diagnosed by postoperative murmur and echocardiography. Twenty-six cases were repaired with patch and 11 cases were closed directly with mattresses sutures.

RESULTSTwo patients (2/37, 5%) died within 48 hrs postoperatively. The results in other 35 patients followed up after surgery from 3 months to 15 years were satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONSMost of the residual shunts occurred in base of septal leaflet of tricuspid valve, the second and the first transfer suture respectively. Effects of reoperations on residual shunts were satisfactory.