OBJECTIVE: To describe the mitral anuloplasty technique either in isolation or associated with posterior quadrantectomy and to analyze the immediate and late results in young patients. METHOD: Between February 1986 and February 2001, 790 mitral valve procedures were performed in our Institution including 41 annuloplaties in patients with ages ranging from 1 to 20 years (Mean age = 9.7 years). 51.7% were males. The main etiologies were rheumatic disease (92.6%) and myxomatous degeneration (7.4%). Twenty-two (53.6%) patients were preoperatively in functional class III (NYHA), and 19 (46.4%) in class IV (NYHA), some in course of rheumatic fever aggravated by malnutrition. The technique employed was concentric mitral annuloplasty either in isolation or associated with posterior quadrantectomy. The follow-up ranged from 7 months to 15 years. RESULTS: The hospital mortality rate was 2.4%. All patients were discharged without mitral regurgitation. Two patients coursed with mitral stenosis (after 4 and 11 years respectively) and valve replacement was needed. Two patients coursed with aortic insufficiency (after 12 and 18 months) and died after aortic valve replacement, contributing to a 5% late mortality rate. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, mitral annuloplasty without ring either in isolation or associated with posterior quadrantectomy is a safe, easily reproducible especially in young patients.
Mitral valve; Heart valve; Mitral valve insufficiency; Rheumatic fever
