title: Mechanical valve replacement of the systemic atrioventricular valve in children.
abstract: In children with systemic atrioventricular valve disease (SAVVD), reconstructive surgery is the primary goal. However, in cases with severely dysplastic valves or failed repair, valve replacement is the only option. The purpose of this study was to assess the early and late outcome following mechanical valve replacement in SAVVD. Between 1989 and 2003, 31 children underwent mechanical valve replacement (19 St. Jude Medical, 12 Carbomedics) in SAVVD (27 mitral, 3 tricuspid in corrected transposition of the great arteries, 1 common in an univentricular heart) at our institution. The ages ranged from 3 months to 15 years (mean 4 years) and body weight varied between 4.2 and 57 kg (mean 13.3 kg). The size of prostheses ranged between 16 and 31 mm (mean 23.9 mm). The main indication for valve replacement was severe insufficiency of left atrioventricular valve (84%); 84% of the patients had had a previous cardiac operation. The overall hospital mortality was 6.5% The mean follow up was 7.7 years (range 2-13 years). Ninety percent of children represent sinus rhythm, 87% are in NYHA class I. All patients were placed on a regimen of Phenprocoumon aiming to maintain the international normalized ratio (INR) between 3.0 and 4.0. Since 1994, INR self-management of oral anticoagulation was performed either by the patient or his or her parents. There was no anticoagulation-related complication in this patient group. Mechanical valve replacement in left atrioventricular valve disease carries a low operative risk across the spectrum of pediatric age despite previous operations in most cases. Long-term survival and quality of life are good in nearly all cases. The rate of anticoagulation-related complications is very low, especially when INR self management is performed.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center North Rhine-Westphalia, Ruhr-University of Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany.
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reiss
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Blanz
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Breymann
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kind
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bairaktaris
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Körfer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D010644:Phenprocoumon / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D010644:Phenprocoumon