Results of valvuloplasty for Ebstein's anomaly

Sixteen patients, 8 males and 8 females were referred for surgery with the diagnosis of Ebstein's malformation of the tricuspid valve. The intervention was necessary because of deterioration of the clinical status. The age of the patients at the time of surgery ranged from 4 to 51 years. In 11 patients valvuloplasty was performed, in 5 patients the tricuspid valve was replaced with a bioprosthesis. One patient, with end-stage disease prior to surgery, died 2 days postoperatively rendering total mortality at 6.25%. Subsequent follow-up ranging from 8 months to 8 years was uneventful in the 15 survivors. Only 2 patients showed evidence of dysrhythmias, and demonstrated cardiothoracic ratios greater than 0.65. Cardiac catheterization in 3 patients, at one or 5 months postoperatively revealed normal pressure in the right heart. Provided the anterior tricuspid leaflet is of adequate size, surgical repair of Ebstein's anomaly through valvuloplasty appears to be feasible. The valvuloplasty consists of forming a monocusp valve with the anterior leaflet and plicating the atrialized portion of the right ventricle.