Chest radiographic appearance before and after transcatheter closure in patients with ventricular septal defect

AIM To explore the chest radiographic appearance of perimembranous ventricular septal defect (VSD) before and after transcatheter closure with Amplatzer occluder and to summarize the radiographic characteristics of VSD occluder on chest radiography. METHODS Plain chest films in posterior-anterior view and left lateral view were studied in 33 patients before and 4-7 days after transcatheter closure. RESULTS After the procedure, most VSD occluders were located between T8 and T9, left of anterior midline on the posterior-anterior roentgenogram. The occluders presented one dot or two dots, occasionally one dot and one circle. On lateral chest radiographs, all occluders located the left anterior of the line between the diaphragm and spine crossing and the sternal angle. Most occluders presented two dots and some were like “H” shape. In most patients, the chest radiographic appearance improved to some extent after the procedure. CONCLUSION The ventricular septal defect occluders have a characteristic radiographic appearance when properly positioned. Plain chest radiographs can identify the effects of transcatheter closure as well as the location and shape of the occluders in patients with VSD.