Sick sinus syndrome as a late complication after ventricular septal defect surgery

• Published in: Journal of cardiology cases Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. e24 - e26
• Main Authors: Sakai, Chieko, MD, Kawasaki, Tatsuya, MD, Harimoto, Kuniyasu, MD, Yamano, Michiyo, MD, Miki, Shigeyuki, MD, Kamitani, Tadaaki, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2013; Japanese College of Cardiology
• Subjects: Cardiovascular; Case Report; Late complication; Sick sinus syndrome; Surgery; Ventricular septal defect; Ventricular septal defect; Late complication; Surgery; Sick sinus syndrome
• ISSN: 1878-5409; 1878-5409
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jccase.2013.03.007

Abstract Ventricular septal defect is a common congenital heart disease for which patch closure technique using cardiopulmonary bypass has been applied for a few decades, resulting in a low incidence of perioperative complications. We report a 26-year-old woman with bradycardia of 25–30 beats per minute, which was considered to be a late-onset complication of surgical closure of an isolated ventricular septal defect performed 21 years earlier. She has been stable for more than 9 months without an implanted pacemaker, although her heart rate was always around 40 beats per minute in scheduled follow-up visits. < Learning objective: We experienced a 26-year-old woman with bradycardia of 25–30 beats per minute, which was considered to be a late-onset complication of surgical closure of an isolated ventricular septal defect performed 21 years earlier. Our case highlights the importance of close follow-up for patients who underwent successful surgical closure of a ventricular septal defect and have shown nonsignificant bradycardia, even though they have no symptoms.>