Experience of Reoperation after Valve Replacement Using Mechanical Heart Valve: 8 cases / 대한흉부외과학회지

ABSTRACT

Eight patients underwvnt reoperation after valve replacement surgery with a mechanical valve from January, 1992 to December, 2003. Among the various indications for reoperation, there were 4 patients with paravalvular leakage; 3 patients underwent resuturing of the area of leakage and one patient underwent redo valve replacement. Among the three patients with stenosis due to thrombosis of the valve, 2 patients underwent redo valve replacement and one patient underwent thrombectomy. In one patient, the valve functioned normally, but stenosis was caused by overgrowth of the patient and redo valve replacement was done 123 months later. There was no postoperative mortality or morbidity. After an average of 51 months (2~134 months) of postoperative follow up, the patients were in good condition and were able to maintain a NYHA functional class of I or II. The operative method used, whether it be a redo valve replacement or valve sparing method, depends upon the type of lesion and the anatomic structure.