Abstract

The St. Jude Medical valve prosthesis has been used for valve replacement in 14 children. Ages ranged from 14 months to 17 years (average 8.5 years). Preoperative diagnosis included mitral regurgitation in five patients, aortic stenosis in one patient, aortic regurgitation in one, mitral stenosis in one, combined aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation in five patients, and other in one patient. Seven patients required mitral valve replacement and seven aortic valve replacement. All patients survived operation and there have been no late deaths. Ten patients have been maintained on warfarin anticoagulation and four on aspirin alone. During a follow-up period of two months to three years (average 20.5 months) there have been no complications related to the valve, no thromboeinboli, and no incidence of hemolysis. Three patients have had postoperative cardiac catheterization, and satisfactory pressure and angiographic studies have been recorded. The St. Jude Medical valve prosthesis initially appears to be a satisfactory device for valve replacement in children.