From January 1978 to December 1991, 148 children (age < 15 years) were operated upon on our Service for the first time, to correct defects (rheumatic fever) on the cardiac valves. The material was divided in two times, according to the point of view of the group in an attempt to preserve a great number of valves, in especial in children. Last year 24 children were operated upon in whom mitral valve disease treatment was necessary twenty times, and in aortic valve eight times. In that group, 95% (28% before) surgery on the mitral valve and 62% (20% before) on the aortic valve were conservative procedures. There were neither deaths nor complications and all children have good evolution. We conclude that on rheumatic fever, cardiac valve disease treatment in children must be conservative and the best time for the surgery must be earlier, to avoid valvar disfunction due to disease. We also think that follow up must be effective in order to analyze if different available plastic techniques are better than valve substitution in children with rheumatic fever.
heart valves; heart valves