Background : There has been no ideal valve prosthesis for children from the point of view of thromboembolism and size mismatch, and the surgical repair of native mitral valve has always been our first priority in children. However, valve replacement becomes the inevitable surgical option if repair is impossible. The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term results of mitral valvuloplasty (MVP) and mitral valve replacement (MVR) for isolated mitral valve diseases in children under 15 years old. Patients and Methods : From 1981 to 2010, 30 patients underwent a total of MVPs (P group) and 26 consecutive patients underwent a total of MVRs (R group). The median age was 4.6 years (4 months to 16 years) in group P and 6.2 years (4 months to 13.7 years) in group R, and the median body weight was 13.4 kg (6 to 35.5 kg) in group P and 16.4 kg (4.8 to 50.7 kg) in group R. The etiology was congenital in 55 (98%) patients, and due to endocarditis in 1 (2%) patient. Isolated mitral regurgitation was present in 41 (73%) patients (group iMR), and isolated mitral stenosis was present in 15 (27%) patients (group iMS). Mechanical valves (bileaflet disc, n=26) were used in all initial MVR patients. Results : Overall hospital mortality was 0%. The median follow-up time was 9.3±7.8 years (4 months to 27.7 years). There were 6 reoperations in P group and 5 explants due to size mismatch in R group with patient growth, and no explant due to structural valve deterioration. Survival rates at 10 years were 100% in the P group and 88.0% in the R group, and there was a significant difference (p=0.043). Freedom from reoperation at 10 years was 77.6% in P group and 77.0% in R group. Freedom rate from cerebral events at 10 years were 100% in both groups, respectively, and there were no significant differences. Survival rates at 10 years were 100% in the iMR group and 53.3% in the iMS group, respectively, and there was a significant difference between the groups (p<0.001). Freedom rates from reoperation at 10 years were 77.1% in the iMR group and 64.3% in the iMS group, respectively, there being no significant difference. Conclusions : The long-term results of pediatric mitral surgery were acceptable. Mitral valvuloplasty for patients with isolated mitral regurgitation were excellent. Mitral valve replacement can be performed with low initial mortality but should be reserved for medical and reconstruction failure because reoperation and late mortality are high, particularly for patients with isolated mitral stenosis.

Background. In recent years, aortic valve stenosis in the elderly is increasing. To determine the treatment of aortic stenosis in the elderly, we retrospectively evaluated the patients who underwent aortic valve replacement. Method. Between 1992 and 1997, 22 patients older than 70 years underwent aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis. There were 15 women and 7 men, with a mean age of 73.0±4.0 years. Seven patients underwent concomitant procedures: 5 patients required coronary artery bypass grafts, 1 mitral valve plasty and 1 aortic root plasty. SJM prosthetic valves of sizes 19mm, 21mm and 23mm were used in 11, 8 and 3 patients respectively. Nobody underwent aortic annuloenlargement. Three patients underwent supraannular aortic valve replacement. All patients had New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV symptoms. Results. There was no operative or hospital death. Five patients had atrial fibrillation after operation. There was only one late death, due to a traffic accident, and there was no significant complication during the follow up period. Of the 22, 21 patients improved to NYHA class I or II after operation. There were significant differences between patients who were 70 years or more and those under 70. BSA in these two groups were 1.495 and 1.615m²; p<0.01, and the amounts of blood transfusion were 918±702 and 408±428ml, p<0.01. However, there was no significant difference between these two groups in terms of ACC time (56.8 and 59.9min), CPB time (88.7 and 92.1min), ICU stay (4.0 and 3.3 days) and hospital stay (29.5 and 25.5 days). Conclusion. The results of aortic valve replacement in patients aged 70 years or more, were satisfactory. If the aortic annulus being small, a small mechanical valve prosthesis is suitable, and supraannular positioning yielded good results.