Atrioventricular valve repair or replacement in atriopulmonary anastomosis: surgical considerations.

Three patients who underwent a modified Fontan-Kreutzer (F-K) operation required additional procedures to correct left atrioventricular valve regurgitation. Valve replacement was performed in two additional procedures, and initial annuloplasty with a Carpentier ring was carried out in the third. All 3 survived the combined procedures and are doing well after a follow-up period ranging from five months to three years. More frequent presentation of these types of patients can be expected with broadening indications for F-K procedure to more complex lesions.