Congenital mitral stenosis.

This report presents a 15 year review of the surgical treatment of 9 patients with congenital mitral stenosis seen at the Columbus Children's Hospital. The over-all mortality rate was 45 per cent. Seven patients had associated lesions, mostly coarctation of the aorta and patent ductus arteriosus. In the planning of the operative procedure, distal obstructive lesions of the left heart should generally be relieved first. The mitral valve should be explored with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass and the anatomic type of the valve determined. Type I valves will often respond to open valvulotomy, whereas Type II and III valves must be replaced.