Resultados alejados de la cirugía reparadora de la insuficiencia mitral isquémica / Long-term results of mitral valve repair for ischemic mitral insufficiency

Background: The preferred treatment for ischemic mitral insufficiency is mitral valve repair with a prosthetic ring, because it does not deteriorate left ventricular function, allowing better immediate and long-term results. Aim: To assess long-term results of mitral annuloplasty with a prosthetic ring for ischemic mitral insufficiency. Patients and Methods: One hundred patients (68 men), with a mean age of 65.7 ± 8.6 years were included. They underwent a mitral annuloplasty with a prosthetic ring to treat ischemic mitral insufficiency, between February 1992 and May 2009. Fortyfour had a history of prior myocardial infarction and 46 had an evolving acute coronary syndrome. The inferior left ventricular wall was involved, exclusively or associated with an adjacent wall, in 72 cases. Coronary artery bypass grafts were performed in 92 patients and 32 required intra-aortic balloon pumping at some time during the peri-operative period. Results: Operative mortality was 10% (10 patients). During follow-up 30 patients died, at an average of 39 months after surgery (range: 3-142 months). Actuarial long-term survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 79%, 72% and 64.5%, respectively. Trans esophageal echocardiogram performed in the operating room showed none or minimal residual mitral insufficiency in 96% of the cases. Echocardiographic follow-up was completed in 80% of the survivors; 79% of them had no or minimal mitral insufficiency. Only one patient was re-operated on due to severe mitral insufficiency and 4 required a permanent pacemaker. Conclusions: Considering the critical illness of these patients, good long-term results were observed after treatment of ischemic mitral regurgitation performing a mitral annuloplasty with a prosthetic ring.

Reemplazo valvular aórtico con prótesis biológica en pacientes mayores de 70 años con estenosis aórtica / Aortic valve replacement with bioprosthesis in patients 70 years old or older with aortic stenosis

Background: Aortic valve stenosis is the most prevalent valvulopathy in the elderly, but it is frequently undertreated. Aim: To assess early and long term results of valve replacement with bioprostheses in patients 70 years old or older with aortic stenosis. Patients and Methods: A review of the database of the Cardiovascular Surgery Service of our hospital, for the period 1990-2007, identified 156 patients with aortic valve stenosis, aged 76.7 ± 4.5 years (67 percent males), that were subjected to an aortic valve replacement with bioprosthesis. Seventy eight (50 percent) were in functional class III-IV. Six patients had emergency surgery. In 67 patients (43 percent) coronary artery bypass graft were performed. Long term mortality was ascertained obtaining death records from Chilean death registry. Results: Operative mortality was 3.2 percent (5 patients). Four patients (2.6 percent) required a reoperation due to bleeding. The mean follow up was 66 ± 41 months. The survival rate at 1, 3 and 5years was 94 percent, 88 percent and 80 percent, respectively. Forty two patients (27 percent) were 80years old or older. In this sub-group, 1 patient (2.3 percent) died during the peri operative period and the estimated survival rate at 1, 3 and 5years was 97 percent, 92 percent, and 80 percent, respectively. Multivariate risk analysis, for the whole group, identified low ejection fraction and concomitant coronary artery bypass graft surgery as predictors of late mortality. Conclusions: Aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis with bioprostheses in patients 70 years old or older had low perioperative mortality and morbidity and a good long term survival.

Criocoagulación de venas pulmonares como tratamiento complementario de la fibrilación auricular en cirugía valvular / Cryoablation of pulmonary veins as complementary treatment of atria I fibrillation in valvular surgery

Background: The Cox MAZE III operation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) is complex and consumes significant operative time. Cryoablation of the pulmonary veins (CPV) is a simpler alternative for patients that require concomitant valvular surgery. Aim: To evaluate CPV in patients with AF submitted to valvular surgery. Patients and Methods: Twenty one patients had simultaneous valvular surgery and CPV, 81 percent of them had permanent AFfor an average of 5 years. Twenty patients had mitral valve disease. The etiology was rheumatic in 14. Average left atrial diameter was 60 mm. In 7patients the mitral valve was replaced, in 5 it was repaired, in 7 both mitral and aortic valve were replaced, in 1 the mitral valve was repaired and the aortic valve was replaced and in 1 only the aortic valve was replaced. A combined transeptal and superior approach was used for all patients. The CPV was performed after the valvular procedure with cryothermy at -60°C for 2 minutes with two 15 mm cryoprobes applied simultaneously. Results: CPV increased surgical time by 10 to 20 minutes. Operative mortality was 4.8 percent (1 patient). One patient developed a pericardial effusion and another a complete heart block that required a permanent pacemaker. All patients improved their functional class. At the end of an average 10.5 months of follow-up, 50 percent of patients were in normal sinus rhythm and 25 percent persisted in AF. The remaining patients were in some type of regular rhythm. Conclusions: CPV as a complementary procedure in patients with AF undergoing valvular surgery had good results to abate AF. It restored normal sinus rhythm in 50 percent of the cases, with low morbidity and mortality and little increment in surgical time.

Resultados alejados de la reparación versus reemplazo en insuficiencia mitral degenerativa / Long-term results of repair versus replacement for degenerative mitral valve regurgitation

Background: Mitral valve repair is considered better than mitral valve replacement for degenerative mitral regurgitation. Aim: To evaluate late clinical results of mitral valve repair as compared to mitral valve replacement in patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation. Patients and methods: All patients subjected to open heart surgery for degenerative mitral regurgitation between 1990 and 2002 were assessed for surgical mortality, late cardiac and overall mortality, reoperation, readmission to hospital, functional capacity and anticoagulant therapy. Eighty eight patients (48 males) had mitral valve repair and 28 (19 males) had mitral valve replacement (23 with a mechanical prosthesis). Mean age was 59.9 ± 14.8 (SD) and 61.3 ± 14.6 years, respectively. Sixty three percent of patients with repair and 50% of those with valve replacement were in functional class III or IV before surgery. Results: Operative mortality was 2.3% for mitral valve repair and 3.6% for mitral valve replacement (NS). Also, there was no statistical difference in the need of reoperation during the follow-up period between both procedures (2.3% and 0%, respectively). Ninety four percent of the replacement patients but only 26% of the repair patients were in anticoagulant therapy at the end of the follow-up period (p <0.001). Ten years survival rates were 82 ± 6% for mitral valve repair and 54 ± 11% for replacement. The corresponding cardiac related survival rates were 89 ± 6% and 79 ± 10%. At the end of follow-up, all surviving patients were in functional class I or II. Ten years freedom from cardiac event rates (death, cardiac related rehospitalization and reoperation) were 90 ± 3% for mitral valve repair and 84 ± 6% for replacement. Conclusion: Repair of the mitral valve offers a better overall survival and a better chance of freedom from cardiac events as well as need for anticoagulation 10 years after surgery.