SUPRA-ANNULAR MITRAL VALVE IMPLANTATION IN VERY SMALL CHILDREN

Objective Mitral valve replacement (MVR) is a surgical option when mitral valvuloplasty is not feasible/successful. This study reviews our experience with MVR in very young children. Methods From July 2004 to January 2014, seven children (mean age 13.3-±-11.2 months; range 4 months to 35 months; mean body weight 6.0-±-2.2-kg) underwent MVR with a mechanical prosthesis in the supra-annular position. To provide better exposure in the left atrium, we performed in all but one case a biatrial transeptal incision according to Guiraudon. Six patients had congenital defects of the mitral valve and one had rheumatic. Six patients had undergone previous cardiosurgical procedures. Results All patients were implanted with a CarboMedics (CarboMedics, Austin, TX, USA) mechanical prosthesis. Mean prosthesis size was 19.0-±-3.1-mm (range 16 to 25). There were no cases of operative or late mortality. At follow-up (mean 67.1-±-34.8 months; range 25 to 108 months) two patients (28.6%) required reoperation both for thrombotic pannus formation over the disc at two and three months from first operation, respectively; only in one case was replacement necessary. Conclusion Supra-annular MVR may be considered a feasible secondary surgical option in children with a small annulus when mitral valvuloplasty is unsuccessful or unsuitable. Early and mid-term outcomes are acceptable but complications are not uncommon, especially related to thrombotic events.