Clinical outcomes of pulmonary valve replacement surgery in pediatrics: a single-center experience long-term study

Heart valve disease in pediatricsis an increasing global concern, especially in developing countries. This study aims to determine the clinical outcomes of pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) surgery in pediatrics.

The authors retrospectively identified all pediatrics undergoing PVR surgery at Imam Reza hospital (Mashhad, Iran) between 2000 and 2020. Their medical records were reviewed for demographic characteristics, clinical data (intra-operative and postoperative), and follow-up results. Echocardiography and electrocardiography were performedonall patients before the surgery and periodically after the surgery.

Among 50 pediatrics undergoing surgical PVR, 38 (76%) were female and others were male (14%), with a mean age of 10.39±5.31 years. The leading cause of PVR was the Tetralogy of Fallot. There was a significant relationship between age at the time of surgery and the size of the pulmonary valve(P=0.02).There were also statistically significant differences between QTc intervals before and after surgery (P=0.001). Further more, there was a significant correlation between QTc intervals before and after surgery and the ageof pediatrics at the time of surgery (P=0.01, r=-0.6).There was also a statistically significant relationship between the ICU stay (P=0.01) and the weaning time of the mechanical ventilation (P=0.03).

It is recommended that this procedure ispostponed as much as possible to decrease postoperative life-threatening events in pediatrics.In addition, if this surgery is conducted with good surgical and nursing management, it can be safe with low complications among other cardiac valve procedures.