Thrombo-embolic accident in children with prosthesis heart valves

ABSTRACT

We report a study of thrombo-embolic accidents [TEA] observed in 273 children who have undergone cardiac surgery with prothetic valve replacement. The mean age of children is 12 years. The follow-up varies from 1 to 15 years [mean 3.7 years]. Thrombo-embolic accidents [TEA] have occured in 24 cases. The rate is 2.7 percent year/patient. The rate is slighty lower than the one observed in adults. After 5 years, 88% of the children who survived are free of any TEA. At 10 and 15 years, 77% are free. Neither age, nor cardiomegaly, nor auricular fibrillation seem to modify the TEA incidence. The thrombosis of the prosthesis is more frequent in children with tricuspid valve prosthesis, whereas children having aortic prosthesis are free of TEA. No significant difference is noted between children receiving antiplatelet drugs and those receiving anticoagulants