Characteristics of growth of ventricular septal defect patients post transcatheter closure in Dr. Soetomo general hospital Surabaya 2020-2023

Growth monitoring is important in children with congenital defects that may hinder development, such as ventricular septal defect (VSD). Although most VSD resolves by itself, some cases require closure to help protect growth and to relieve symptoms. This study aims to observe growth characteristics of children undergoing VSD closure by WHO guidelines. This descriptive analytical study evaluated the growth patterns of pediatric VSD patients undergoing transcatheter closure at Dr. Soetomo General Hospital from 2020–2023. Medical records of patients aged 1–10 years with complete anthropometric data were included. Collected variables consisted of age, sex, body weight, and body height. Inclusion criteria involved VSD patients aged 1-10 years old during the observation period with transcatheter closure who had a complete medical record. From the observation, it is observed that during the time of intervention, the total average of anthropometric Z-scores are normal: WAZ is -0.45SD, HAZ of 0.77SD, BAZ of -0.86SD (normal), and WHZ of -0.47SD. At 6 months post-closure, the average anthropometric characteristics remain normal: WAZ -0.71SD, HAZ -0.56SD, BAZ  -0.44SD, WHZ -1.34SD. At the 1-year follow-up, the total averages are still within the normal limit: WAZ -0.76, HAZ -1.06, BAZ -0.25, and WHZ -0.71SD. This indicates that patients maintain normal growth after the procedure. In conclusion, although not always increasing, the average patients’ growth post-closure still falls within normal limits. However, it is essential to note that external factors not observed in this study, may influence the outcome.