ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Most of congenital ventricular septal defects evolve towards spontaneous closure of different mechanisms depending on their location. AIM: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with spontaneous closure of congenital ventricular septal defects. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 1000 patients diagnosed with congenital ventricular septal defects in our department from January 2000 to December 2017. RESULTS: After an average follow-up of 52.65 months (± 76.93 months), 183 (18.88%) of ventricular septal defects closed spontaneously. The average time for spontaneous closure was 45.78 months (76.34 months). 30.77% of trabecular ventricular septal defects (p<0.05) and 16.93% of perimembranous defects closed spontaneously (p=0.17). 28.5% of perimembranous defects associated with aneurysm formation versus 17.4% of those without associated aneurysm evolved to spontaneous closure (p<0.05). 65.6% of spontaneous closure occured during the first 3 years of life. In multivariate analysis, trabecular site [OR=2.85; CI (2.05-3.97)] and aneurysms of membranous septum [OR=1.9; CI (1.41-2.8)] were independent factors associated with spontaneous closure of defects. CONCLUSION: The highest VSD closure rate was observed during the first three years of life. Trabecular site and aneurysms tissue of membranous septum were found as independent factors associated with spontaneous closure.