To evaluate a longterm evolution of patients who were submitted to an open mitral commissurotomy, we studied 100 patients who were operated upon between 1962 and 1975. They have had follow-up in the Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia for the minimum of 14 years. Sixty-six were women and 24 were men. Their ages ranged from 11 to 50 years, and the media was 30.8 years. Sixty-five patients were reoperated and 18 of them were submitted to a new commissurotomy; in one a revascularization was done; in one the replacement of tricuspide valve; and in 45 times the valve was replaced (43 biological prosthesis and 2 metalics). The medium time among he first and the second surgery was 13.6 years. There wasn't any death among the reoperations. Thirty five patients keep in evolution of the first surgery, the medium time is 17.2 years (minimun 14 years and maximum 27 years). Ten are in the NYHA functional class I, 17 in II, seven in III and one in class IV. After this time of evolution, 52 patients are with their natural valves, showing good evolution of the mitral commissurotomy.
mitral commissurotomy; heart valves, mitral