[Clinical course of patients treated with partial left ventriculectomy].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of partial left ventriculectomy 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. Subsequently, patients underwent clinical evaluation every 2 months, and 2-dimensional echocardiography at the 6th and 12th months after cardiac surgery. All patients were given digitalis and diuretics at conventional doses, and captopril or enalapril at maximal tolerated doses.


RESULTS
Two (28%) patients died; 1 from cardiac arrhythmia associated with gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and the other suddenly. One (14%) patient developed an embolic cerebrovascular accident. Four (57%) patients were hospitalized for congestive heart failure; all of them had either decreased the daily dose of captopril or enalapril or discontinued the drugs by themselves. Twelve months after ventriculectomy, left ventricular ejection fraction values were greater and left ventricular diastolic dimension and functional class values lower than those found before cardiac operation.


CONCLUSIONS
Beneficial effects of partial left ventriculectomy are observed one year after the surgical procedure. This technique, therefore, can be useful for the treatment of patients with end-stage heart failure.
Bestetti
R B
RB
Hospital do Coração de Ribeirão Preto.
Bombonato
R
R
Kato
M
M
Caixe
S H
SH
Finzi
L A
LA
Muccillo
G
G
Brasil
J C
JC
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002216:Captopril / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D004656:Enalapril / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D019452:Terminally Ill
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D004656:Enalapril; D002216:Captopril
Evolução clínica de pacientes submetidos à ventriculectomia esquerda parcial.