Mitral Valve Replacement in Children and Adolescents with Rheumatic Heart Disease

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Abstract
The natural history of rheumatic heart disease in India often follows a rapid and fulminant course which makes an aggressive surgical approach mandatory. An operative mortality of 22% was seen in 31 young patients undergoing valve replacement. Pronounced cardiac disability together with the poor general condition and the low nturitional status contributed to this figure. Patients were followed for 6 mo.-6 yr following corrective surgery. A remarkable absence of thrombo-embolic phenomena was a striking feature in the follow-up. There is no evidence of rheumatic reactivation in any of these patients. This communication reinforces the beneficial results of valve replaceent at this young age when severe mitral incompetence is refractory to medical treatment.

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