Prosthetic valve replacement in infants and children.
A review of 41 children from 10 months to 16 years of age who had a valve replacement between the years 1966 to 1981 is reported. Sixty-one per cent of the valve deformities were rheumatic and 39% congenital. Twenty-two children had the mitral valve replaced, 14 had an aortic valve and 5 had both aortic and mitral valve replacement. There was a hospital mortality of 9.7% and only one later death during a mean follow up period of 6.75 years. Three children have required a second mitral valve replacement. Thrombo-embolic episodes were encountered in 4 children. The special problems of valve replacement in infants and children are discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000601:surgery; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000601:surgery