The presence of Down syndrome in patients with complete atrioventricular septal defect is not a risk factor for surgical repair. Because of the early development of pulmonary vascular disease, primary repair should be performed within the first 6 months of life. In the long term, reintervention on the left atrioventricular valve is more often required in children with a normal chromosomal pattern.

Patients who require tricuspid valve surgery constitute a high-risk group. Tricuspid valve repair is associated with better perioperative and long-term outcome than valve replacement. However, patients undergoing replacement showed a significant higher incidence of risk factors for operative mortality. The incidence of re-operation is low with no significant difference when the tricuspid valve has been repaired or replaced. When valve replacement is necessary we recommend the use of a biological prosthesis considering the poor long-term survival.

Patients who require TV surgery either as an isolated or a combined procedure constitute a high-risk group. The long-term survival is poor. Tricuspid valve repair with a ring annuloplasty is associated with improved survival and a lower reoperation rate than that with a suture annuloplasty.

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Mitral valve repair with the 3-dimensional saddle-shaped Edwards GeoForm annuloplasty ring in case of ischemic mitral regurgitation shows a low rate of recurrent regurgitation at 4 years. Clinically relevant mitral stenosis was not detected. The importance of secure anchoring of the device in the mitral annulus has to be emphasized to prevent ring dehiscence.

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R. Lange reports lecture fees from Edwards, Medtronic, and Sorin, R. Bauernschmitt reports consulting fees from Sorin.