Objective: To summarize the experience in performing reoperation of valve dysfunction after congenital heart disease procedure.
Methods: From 1994 to 2001 we reviewed the data of 13 patients with valve dysfunction after congenital heart disease operation, in which 8 patients after ventricular septal defect, 3 after atrioventricular canal and 2 after respectively tetralogy of Fallot and atrial septal defect were corrected. Before the first operation, 6 patients had presented the mild to moderate mitral regurgitation, 1 had aortic regurgitation. Other 6 patients had valves dysfunction occurring after the first operation, among them, 2 suffered from respectively residual shunt of the ventricular septal defect, 2 had anterior chordae rupture of tricuspid valve, one had an operative injured aortic valve and one had surviving of right ventricular outlet obstruction. Thirteen patients were reoperated, including mitral valve replacement in 6, tricuspid valve replacement in 2, aortic valve replacement in one, aortic valve replacement consists with mitral valve repair and tricuspid valve repair in one and tricuspid valve repair in 3. Concomitant procedures were performed.
Results: Low cardiac output occurred in 3 cases and there were 2 early deaths, due to cerebral air-embolism, respiratory and circulatory failure respectively. Other 11 cases discharged and were followed up well.
Conclusions: It is important to safeguard and repair the valvular construction and function during the operation in congenital heart disease. Reoperation should be performed timely for obtaining recurrent and a good results.