Multiple valve replacement: changing status.
Review of our experience with multiple valve replacement over a 6-year-period revealed a recent marked reduction in operative risk. Operative mortality for 62 patients operated on before 1974 was 34%; for 44 patients operated on since 1974, mortality was only 11%. In both groups, mortality was clearly related to the preoperative cardiac functional status. Several recent technical advances including myocardial protection by topical hypothermia, shortened perfusion time, and the intraaortic balloon pump may all have contributed to the reduced operative risk.
D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D002302:Cardiac Output; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000601:surgery*