Anesthetic management of an adult patient with uncorrected ventricular septal defect posted for open cholecystectomy

Abstract

Ventricular septal defect is an acyanotic congenital heart disease, characterized by a left-to-right shunt. The incidence varies between two and six per 1000 live births. It is found in 30% to 60% of all the newborns with congenital heart disease, thus making it one of the most common congenital heart diseases. It can lead to significant hemodynamic changes and patient morbidity and mortality perioperatively, thus posing a challenge to the anesthesiologists. Here, we report the perioperative management of an adult patient with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary stenosis, posted for cholecystectomy, which was successfully managed with general anesthesia and thoracic epidural analgesia.