Valve surgery in congenital heart disease.

Congenital valve disease (CVD) occurs in iso- lated form or as part of complex malformations and pre- sents distinct epidemiology, including: young age at onset; high prevalence of associated pathology; history of prior operations; critical clinical presentation. Therefore, mul- tiple interventions are often needed, highlighting the pal- liative character of CVD surgery. At the same time, long- term survival and satisfactory quality of life expectations must be satisfied in a young, active patient population. The present study analyzes the unique aspects of surgery for CVD by reviewing clinical experience with 565 consecu- tive patients operated during a 7-year period. Treatment options and outcome are assessed with reference to the ability of respecting the unique demands of patients with CVD. In addition, future developments of CVD manage- ment are discussed