TOTAL CIRCULAR ANNULOPLASTY WITH ABSORBABLE SUTURE FOR THE REPAIR OF LEFT ATRIOVENTRICULAR VALVE REGURGITATION IN ATRIOVENTRICULAR SEPTAL-DEFECT

To obtain a better control of left atrioventricular valve regurgitatio n, we applied total circular annuloplasty with the use of absorbable s utures to 14 children with atrioventricular septal defect (six complet e forms and eight incomplete forms). In the intraoperative period, a g ood coaptation of the leaflets was achieved and the regurgitation was minimized or disappeared. Follow-up studies with echocardiography for 13 survivors showed a gradual increase of annular size during the post operative period. Ten patients of the survivor group (77%) maintained good valvular competency in a long-term period. Total circular annulop lasty is a simple and effective procedure to reduce the regurgitation and prevent the annular dilatation during the immediate postoperative period.