Regression of Severe Pulmonary Hypertension after Repair of a Defect of the Ventricular Septum in a Patient with a Bidirectional Shunt

Abstract

THERE is now general agreement that closure of a defect of the ventricular septum is indicated in a patient with severe pulmonary hypertension when there is a large left-to-right shunt. It is equally clear that there is little chance for survival and improvement if the defect is closed in a patient with severe pulmonary hypertension in whom there is a net right-to-left intracardiac shunt since, under these circumstances, operation will tend to augment pulmonary blood flow and raise the pressures in the pulmonary artery and right ventricle. All patients with defects of the ventricular septum and pulmonary hypertension cannot be . . .