Mitral valve replacement in infancy: haemodynamic factors.
Severe mitral valve regurgitation necessitated the insertion of a prosthetic valve (Björk-Shiley no. 21) in a girl 10 months of age. Control studies after the baby had doubled her body weight showed normal haemodynamic data. It is estimated that a valve of this size should allow the expected cardiac output for a patient of 9-12 years of age. Thrombosis and tissue overgrowth may result in "recurrent" mitral stenosis long before this date. Repeated haemodynamic studies at intervals of 2-3 years are therefore indicated, since clinical signs fail to show recurrent valve stenosis; should the latter develop there is the risk of irreversible pulmonary vascular resistance.
D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000151:congenital / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*