Background and Aim:Aortic valve (AV) prolapse and subsequent aortic regurgitation (AR) are two complications of ventricular septal defects (VSD) that are located close to or in direct contact with the AV. This finding is one of the indications for surgical VSD closure even in the absence of symptoms to protect the AV integrity. The goal of our study was to assess the outcome and to identify the predictors for improvement or progression of AR after surgical repair.Materials and Methods:A retrospective study of all children with VSD and AV prolapse who underwent cardiac surgery at King Abdulaziz Cardiac Centre in Riyadh between July 1999 and August 2013.Results:A total of 41 consecutive patients, operated for VSD with prolapsed AV, with or without AR, were reviewed. The incidence of AV prolapse in the study population was 6.8% out of 655 patients with VSD. Thirty-six (88%) patients had a perimembranous VSD, and four had doubly committed VSD. Only one patient had an outlet muscular VSD. Right coronary cusp prolapse was found in 38 (92.7%) patients. Preoperative AR was absent in five patients, mild or less in 25 patients, moderate in seven, and severe in four patients. Twenty-six patients showed improvement in the degree of AR after surgery (Group A), 14 patients showed no change in the degree of AR (Group B) while only one patient showed the progression of his AR after surgery. Those with absent AR before surgery remained with no AR after surgery. Improvement was found more in those with mild degree of AR preoperatively compared to those with moderate and severe AR. Female gender also showed a tendency to improve more as compared to male.Conclusion:Early surgical closure is advisable for patients with VSD and associated AV prolapse to achieve a better outcome after repair and to prevent progression of AR in future.

ObjectivesCoarctation of the aorta represents 5–8% of all congenital heart diseases. Children with severe coarctation of the aorta may present with significant depression of myocardial function. The aim of this study is to identify short and midterm outcomes of neonates and infants with isolated coarctation of the aorta and depressed left ventricular systolic function with regard to recovery of their cardiac function.MethodsAll patients with isolated coarctation of the aorta who underwent surgical repair between December 2002 and December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed in a cohort study. The patients were divided into 2 groups: (1) Patients with depressed left ventricle systolic function who were found to have an ejection fraction and fractional shortening less than 55% and 25%, respectively, (2) Patients with coarctation of the aorta and normal left ventricle systolic function (Control Group). We reviewed both groups after surgery and compared them in terms of their cardiac function recovery.Results58 patients were included. 25 patients (43%) depressed left ventricle systolic function group, 33 patients (57%) Control Group. There were statistically significant differences in ejection fraction and fractional shortening (p < 0.0001) between the two groups before surgery. Follow-up demonstrated improvement and recovery of ventricular function in most of the patients, six months after surgery there was no more statistical difference between the groups in terms of cardiac function.ConclusionMajority of the patients with isolated coarctation of the aorta and depressed left ventricle systolic function showed improvement of ventricular function within 4 weeks after surgery, except for patients with residual coarctation of the aorta.