Restenosis of the mitral valve: surgical considerations and results of operation.
Our experience over an eight-year period with 63 consecutive patients with mitral restenosis who underwent operation forms the basis for this report. Striking clinical disability was a notable finding. A majority of the patients were less than 30 years old. Embolic phenomena were rare. Closed transventricular valvotomy offers excellent low-risk palliation and good long-term results. Follow-up showed excellent or good results in 90.5% of the patients and poor results in 9.5%. Hemodynamic study of 6 patients demonstrated a pronounced decrease in the pulmonary artery pressure. Open valvotomy was performed in 6 subjects. The presence of intracardiac calcification together with mild mitral incompetence in 2 patients made valve replacement mandatory. The problem of restenosis of the mitral valve is complex, and only after further long-term results are available will the superiority of any one method be demonstrated.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence