[Initial experience with partial left ventriculectomy as a treatment for end-stage heart failure].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of left ventriculectomy, on a short term basis, as a treatment for patients with end-stage heart failure.


METHODS
From February to June 1995, 7 patients with end-stage heart failure underwent partial left ventriculectomy. Before the surgical procedure, 7 (100%) patients were in functional class IV. Three (42%) patients needed inotropic support for hemodynamic stability. The mean daily dose of furosemide was l48.67 +/- 128.27 mg, of captopril 87.50 +/- 95.20 mg and of digoxin 0.23 +/- 0.04. Mean left ventricular diastolic dimension determined by 2-D echocardiography was 78.29 +/- 12.63 mm, mean left ventricular ejection fraction, determined by radionuclide ventriculography, was 0.15 +/- 0.05 whereas mean transpulmonary gradient and pulmonary vascular resistance in Wood units, determined by right heart catheterization, were 16.80 +/- 8.80 and 6.57 +/- 3.22, respectively.


RESULTS
Sixty days after the surgery, the mean functional class was 1.71 +/- 0.48 (p = 0.009), the mean left ventricular diastolic dimension 64.67 +/- 11.41 mm (p = 0.02) and the mean left ventricular ejection fraction 0.22 +/- 0.04 (p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
The left ventriculectomy is a promising treatment for patients with end-stage heart failure.
Bombonato
R
R
Ribeirão Preto, SP, Uberaba, MG.
Bestetti
R B
RB
Sgarbieri
R
R
Kato
M
M
Caixe
S H
SH
Moreira Neto
F F
FF
Finzi
L A
LA
Brasil
J C
JC
D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000601:surgery*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D015635:Radionuclide Ventriculography; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016896:Treatment Outcome