Mitral Valve Repair in Pediatric Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Mitral Insufficiency: Single-Center Experience and Results

Mitral Valve Repair in Paediatric Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Objective

Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a serious disease causing mitral regurgitation and  contraction defect of the myocardium. Through mitral valve repair surgery, clinical status of patients may be improved.

Method

Pediatric patients with  DCM and mitral insufficiency who underwent mitral repair procedures between 2019 and 2023 were retrospectively investigated. The patients' demographic characteristics, preoperative and postoperative clinical conditions and  echocardiographic findings  were compared. The techniques used in the patients' operations were examined. Similarly, data regarding the postoperative intensive care unit processes and mortality data of the patients were recorded.

Results

Mitral repair was performed in 3 patients during the study period. The mean  age of the patients was 4.66 months (±3.05) and body weight was 5.25 kg (±0.25). In the preoperative period, LVEF decreased slightly in all patients (mean 43.3% ±2.8 SD). Although the preoperative and postoperative values of LVEDd and LVEDd Z scores were above normal, respectively, they showed a decreasing trend after the operation. Although the mitral annulus diameters decreased slightly after the operation in all three patients, they remained high (mean 17.6 mm±1.5 SD). A significant decrease in mitral valve insufficiency was observed in postoperative follow-ups after discharge (1st-2nd degree). Wooler annuloplasty and posterior valve pericardial patch augmentation were applied as the primary approach in all patients. The patients did not develop additional morbidities and no mortality was observed during their hospitalization.

Conclusion

Successful surgical interventions to prevent mitral regurgitation in pediatric patients with DCM and mitral regurgitation,  may improve the clinical status of the patients.