Valve repair in rheumatic mitral valve disease.

摘要

Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease has been decreasing in incidence in most developed countries, but worldwide remains every significant cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In 1995, it was estimated that 12 million person suffered from rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease worldwide [1]. A large proportion requires valve surgery within 5 to 10 years and many are children [2]. Mitral valve repair techniques initially described by Carpentier have showed promising results [3]. Mitral valve repair, if technically feasible, remains the procedure of choice for the pediatric rheumatic population although its midterm and long-term performance is less stable than in degenerative lesions [4-5].