Congenital mitral abnormalities in children. Apropos of 44 cases]

Forty-four cases of mitral malformation were studied. Thirty times it was a mitral regurgitation, 10 times, a mitral stenosis. High frequency of associated malformations was observed. Tolerance was almost always very bad, leading to surgery in spite of the young age. Operative mortality was high (30%). To a certain extent, surgery should be palliative: commissurotomy in case of stenosis, with almost always bad results; annuloplasty in case of regurgitation, with sometimes good results. Good surgical results were observed in one third of the cases.     

Congenital balloon digits in two neonates caused by constriction rings

 Balloon digits were found in two neonates with congenital constriction ring syndrome. The affected digits were the right long finger and right great toe. They were surgically treated at the age of 10 and 9 days, respectively. Morphologic improvement was dramatic after surgery. In cases with extensive enlargement, severe cyanosis, redness, and no subsidence of edema within several days after birth, early operative treatment may be necessary to maintain digit viability and prevent autoamputation due to circulatory embarrassment. It can also be helpful to prevent fibrosis of the subcutaneous tissue. Pathologic examination revealed marked proliferation of fibrous tissue and lymphatic vessels. Accepted: 3 July 1999