Objectives: Mitral valve repair presents many advantages over valve replacement but the mid-term outcome depends on the technique applied and the underlying disease. The authors have evaluated the results of mid-term mitral valve repair both clinical and echocardiographic variables in rheumatic mitral insufficiency. Patients and Methods: From January 1995 to February 1997, 23 patients with rheumatic valve disease underwent mitral valve repair. There were 17 females (73.9%) and 6 males (26.1%), all patients with mitral insufficiency or double mitral dysfunction. All of them had no rheumatic activity at time of surgery. Eleven patients (47.8%) were in NYHA class III or IV. All patients underwent annuloplasty with bovine pericardial ring, and were evaluated with trans-thoracic echocardiography before surgery and at each six months after sugery. Results: There were no peri-operative deaths. Follow-up time was 25.8 ± 7.8 months, 83.9% patients were free from reoperation in 36.09 ± 1.2 months (confidence interval 33.7 to 38.48 months). Statistically, an improvement occurred in left ventricle and diastolic volume (from 58.52 ± 12.87 to 53 ± 12.15 mm) (p = 0.001), and functional class (p = 0.0001). Ejection fraction and left ventricle systolic volume showed no significant improvement. Two patients were reoperated at 22.7 and 28.5 months of follow-up. One patient presented moderate mitral insufficiency and all others showed satisfactory results (mild insufficiency or none). Conclusions: We conclude that mitral valve annuloplasty repair presents good results at mid-term, with improvement of clinical and echocardiographic variables. Reoperation incidence was very low.
Mitral valve insufficiency; Pericardium; Prostheses and implants; Mitral valve insufficiency; Rheumatic diseases complications; Ortheses and implants
