Alban-Elouen Baruteau

OBJECTIVES Surgical management of mitral valve disease is challenging in infants <1 year old. We aimed at reviewing the French experience with Melody mitral valve replacement in critically ill infants. METHODS A retrospective cohort study reporting the French experience with Melody mitral valve replacement. RESULTS Seven symptomatic infants [complete atrioventricular septal defect (n = 4, Down syndrome: n = 3), hammock valve (n = 3)] underwent Melody mitral valve replacement [age: 3 months (28 days to 8 months), weight: 4.3 kg (3.2–6.4 kg)] because of severe mitral valve regurgitation (6) or mixed valve disease (1) and 14 mm (11–16 mm) mitral valve annulus. In 2 patients whose valve was felt irreparable, Melody mitral valve replacement was performed straightaway. The others underwent 2 (1–3) previous attempts of valve repair; 3 were on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Melody mitral valve replacement led to competent valve and low gradient [3 mmHg, (1–4 mmHg)]. One patient died 3 days post-implant from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-related stroke. Of the 6 discharged home patients, 3 (50%) were readmitted for a definite diagnosis (1) or high suspicion (2) of infective endocarditis, of which 2 died. Over the follow-up, 1 underwent balloon expansions of the valve at 9- and 16-months post-implant, and mechanical mitral valve replacement at 2 years; another is currently planned for transcatheter Melody valve dilation. CONCLUSIONS Melody mitral valve replacement may be considered in selected infants with small mitral valve annulus as an alternative to mechanical mitral valve replacement. Our experience highlights a high-risk of late infective endocarditis that deserves further consideration.