title: First Melody(®) valve implantations in Africa.
abstract: Congenital heart lesions involving the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) are a common problem in paediatric cardiology. These patients need multiple surgical interventions in the form of valved conduits over a lifetime. Surgical re-valvulation was the standard treatment option until the introduction of percutaneous pulmonary valves over a decade ago. These valves can be used to prolong the lifespan of conduits and reduce the number of re-operations. The Melody(®) valve (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) was introduced as the first dedicated percutaneous pulmonary valve. Percutaneous pulmonary valves can be implanted successfully and have the advantage of short hospitalisations. We describe the first three Melody(®) valve implantations in Africa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Cardiology, University of the Free State, and Universitas Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa. buysdg@ufs.ac.za.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Buys
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Cardiology, University of the Free State, and Universitas Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Greig
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Cardiology, University of the Free State, and Universitas Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D004310:Double Outlet Right Ventricle / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011664:Pulmonary Valve; D011666:Pulmonary Valve Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*