[Experience with atrioventricular valve replacement in infants and children]

From 1980 to 1989, nine infants and children underwent valve replacement. These replacements consisted of seven mitral valve replacement (MVR), one left atrioventricular valve replacement, and one aortic valve (AVR) replacement. We excluded AVR from this report. Follow-up period of 8 cases were 68 months in an average. During this period, 2 cases were not thought to be satisfactory as antithrombotic therapy, in which one revealed malfunctioning prosthesis, and secondary MVR implantation was performed. Another one is free from any complications. We experienced the difficulty of antithrombotic therapy following valve replacement in infants and children. It is supposed that combined use of anticoagulant therapy agent and antiplatelet agent may be necessary as antithrombotic therapy, especially in childhood.