Catheter interventions for residual lesions in the early postoperative period after CHD operations are still not established as a reliable treatment option.

We retrospectively reviewed our institutional experience of cardiac catheterisations and catheter interventions performed in the early postoperative period. We classified our patients into two groups. The “hyper” acute phase group – operation to cardiac catheterisation of ⩽7 days – and acute phase group – operation to cardiac catheterisation from 7 to 30 days.

Of the 47 patients, catheter interventions were performed in 38 patients (81%). The success rate of the intervention was 96% in the acute phase group and 90% in the “hyper” acute phase group. The overall success rate was 95%. There were two self-limited complications in the acute phase group, but not in the “hyper” acute phase group. There were four cases of catheter interventions performed for a newly reconstructed aortic arch, and those procedures were also safe and effective.

Cardiac catheterisations and catheter interventions were safe and effective not only in the early postoperative period but also in the very early postoperative period. Catheter interventions for the left-sided heart in the early postoperative period were also safe and effective.