Background:

Congenital mitral valve disease is associated with complex deformities of mitral apparatus. Annular support should be avoided in children and adolescents. Since 1975 we have employed non-supported techniques for mitral repair.

Objective:

This paper presents long term clinical results for repair in congenital mitral valve disease in children under 12 years of age.

Patients and Methods:

This series comprises 21 patients operated from 1995 to 1998. Mean age 4.6 ñ 3.4 years. Female sex 47.6 per cent mitral regurgitation in 57.1 per cent (12 pt), stenosis 28.6 per cent (6 pt) and mixed lesion 14.3 per cent (3 pt). Perfusion time was 43.1 ñ 9.5 min and ischemic time 29.4 ñ 10.5 min. Follow-up time was 41.5 ñ 53.6 months for the regurgitation group (12 pt) and 46.3 ñ 32.0 months for the stenosis group (4 pt followed).

Results:

Operative mortality was 9.5 per cent (2 cases), both in the stenosis group. There was no late death. In the regurgitation group, 10 pt (83.3 per cent) were assymptomatic. Echocardiographic control at a mean follow-up time of 37.1 ñ 39.5 months showed, in 9 cases, 1 without reflux, 6 mild and 2 moderate reflux. There was 1 reoperation at 48 months post operative for a new valve repair. In the stenosis group, there were 4 patients followed, all in functional class I, 2 without drugs. Echo control at a mean follow-up time of 42.6 ñ 30.5 months showed mean gradient from 8 to 12 mmHg. The mixed lesion group had 1 reoperation after 43 post-operative months. There were no cases of endocarditis or thromboembolism.

Conclusion:

Mitral valve repair in congenital lesions is associated with good late results. The majority of cases remain assymptomatic and free of reoperations. Failures are related to complexity of deformities. Rings on annular support are not necessary. Repair of regurgitation performs better than these for stenosis.