Closed Mitral Valvotomy: Actuarial Analysis of Results in 654 Patients over 12 Years and Analysis of Preoperative Predictors of Long-Term Survival

The records of 654 patients with mitral stenosis who underwent closed mitral valvotomy over a 12-year period were submitted to actuarial analysis. This revealed a low (2.97%) operative mortality. At 12 years, the overall cumulative proportion surviving was 78%; 47% of patients survived without reoperation. The usual clinical indicators of suitability for closed valvotomy were successful in predicting improved survival. The surgeon's assessment of the suitability of the valve correlated well with outcome. Valvotomy during pregnancy was associated with a good long-term outlook. The presence of pulmonary hypertension and atrial fibrillation did not alter survival significantly. Sex and age were not associated with adverse prognosis. We conclude that closed mitral valvotomy still has a place in the management of mobile mitral stenosis, particularly in areas where there is a high incidence of rheumatic heart disease and a large number of young patients have mobile mitral stenosis.     

Surgical correction of mitral valve stenosis and its recurrence

The article analyses the results of surgical treatment of 1,394 patients with mitral stenosis who were operated on in the period between January 1, 1986 and April 1, 1989. Hospital mortality was 2.0%. Distinct indications for transventricular commissurotomy and mitral valve prosthetics were determined. The choice of the method for mitral stenosis correction was based on the character of the morphological changes in the cusps and subcuspal structures, which were determined during echocardiographic examination. With proper indications transventricular commissurotomy presents a small risk. Hospital mortality was 0.8% in mitral stenosis (among 1,039 patients who underwent operation 8 died) and 2.5% in recurrent stenosis (among 197 patients 5 died). Lethal outcomes were not encountered in stage 11, the mortality rate was 0.6% in stage III and 2.2% in stage IV. Mitral valve prosthetics was performed in 158 patients with 15 (9.5%) lethal outcomes. Hospital mortality was 4.5% in stage III and 10.3% in stage IV of the disease. In the group of patients with mitral stenosis hospital mortality was 7.5% (93 patients underwent operation). Hospital mortality after operations for recurrent mitral stenosis (65) was 12.3%. The initial severity of the patients' condition is still the main factor which influences unfavorably of the immediate results of mitral valve prosthetics.     

Critical aortic stenosis. Survival and management

The factors associated with survival in 40 neonates (age less than 28 days) with critical aortic stenosis undergoing either open (22 patients) or closed (18 patients) transventricular aortic valvotomy were reviewed. Significant adverse correlates with survival included evidence of poor perfusion preoperatively (low pH, greater than Grade 2/6 soft ejection systolic murmur) and marked congestive heart failure (hepatomegaly, cardiomegaly, elevated left atrial pressure). Congenital mitral stenosis (anulus less than 11 mm), a small aortic anulus (less than 6.5 mm), and failure to achieve an adequate aortic orifice (greater than 6 mm), at operation were identified as factors associated with increased mortality. Initial perioperative survival was better with closed aortic valvotomy. However, there was no significant difference in overall operative survival between closed (9/18, 50%) and open (8/22, 36%) aortic valvotomy (p = 0.26). The incidence of early reoperation (less than 1 year of age) was greater in perioperative survivors undergoing closed valvotomy (7/13, 54%) rather than open valvotomy (1/10, 10%) (p less than 0.05). In conclusion, long-term survival among patients with critical neonatal aortic valve stenosis remains disturbingly low (13/40, 32%) and has not significantly improved over the past 20 years.     

Mitral valvotomy in childhood

Gotsman, M. S., van der Horst, R. L., le Roux, B. T., and Williams, M. A. (1973). Thorax, 453-457. Mitral valvotomy in childhood. During the seven-year period 1965 to 1972 mitral valvotomy for mitral stenosis was undertaken in 72 children aged 15 years or less. Excellent results were achieved from closed transventricular instrumental valvotomy unless the valve was calcified, there was a jet of mitral incompetence or a second valvotomy was being undertaken. Severe pulmonary arterial hypertension was present before operation and regressed after a successful valvotomy. There was a low incidence of overt antecedent rheumatic fever.     

Mitral valve replacement in the elderly

The results of elective mitral valve replacement between January 1978 and June 1982 in 35 patients aged over 70 are reported. The early mortality was 22,8% and late mortality 17,1%, after a mean follow-up of 25,1 months. Patient-related risk factors included chronic mitral stenosis, often after a previous closed mitral valvotomy, increased cardiothoracic ratio, pulmonary arterial hypertension, functional tricuspid incompetence and a raised left ventricular end-diastolic pressure.     

Percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy for patients with mitral stenosis. Analysis of factors influencing early results

Percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy has recently been developed as an alternative to surgical commissurotomy for patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. We analyzed our initial experience with 60 consecutive procedures performed in 49 patients over 1 1/2 years and identified factors influencing the immediate hemodynamic results. For the total patient population, the mitral valve area increased after percutaneous mitral valvotomy from 0.8 +/- 0.04 to 1.6 +/- 0.11 cm2 (p less than 0.001). Mean diastolic mitral gradient fell from 18 +/- 1 to 7 +/- 0.4 mm Hg (p less than 0.001), and cardiac output increased from 3.8 +/- 0.2 to 4.5 +/- 0.2 L/min (p less than 0.01). Although percutaneous mitral valvotomy resulted in an increase in mitral valve area in each patient, a suboptimal result, as defined by a postprocedure mitral valve area of 1.0 cm2 or less, an increase in area of 25% or less, or a final mitral gradient of 10 mm Hg or more occurred in 21 of the 60 procedures (35%). Multivariate analysis of 16 variables was performed to determine which factors might predict this result. Patients with a suboptimal result were more likely to have severe valve leaflet thickening or immobility and an extreme degree of subvalvular thickening and calcification on echocardiogram. Other factors that predicted a suboptimal result were a smaller effective balloon dilating area and the presence of atrial fibrillation. Thus optimal immediate hemodynamic results can be obtained in the majority of patients undergoing percutaneous mitral valvotomy. Optimal results may be expected in patients in normal sinus rhythm, with pliable mitral leaflets, and with no severe subvalvular disease identified by echocardiography, who undergo dilation with large effective balloon dilating areas.     

Neonatal aortic stenosis

Aortic stenosis in the neonate has been associated in the past with a high operative mortality. As a result, in the current era of percutaneous balloon dilatation, the optimal mode of therapy remains controversial. An approach of stabilization with cardiopulmonary bypass, followed by relief of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, was used at three institutions, and the results are presented. During the period 1983 to 1989, 40 neonates with isolated aortic stenosis and patent ductus arteriosus or coarctation of the aorta, or both, underwent operative therapy. Ages ranged from 1 to 30 days, median of 12 days, including 17 patients in the first week of life. There were 30 boys and 10 girls; weights ranged from 2.5 to 5.5 kg with a mean of 3.6 kg. Perioperative conditions included congestive heart failure in 38 and mitral regurgitation in 16; left ventricular-aortic gradients ranged from 15 to 130 mm Hg, with a mean of 67 mm Hg. There were 30 open valvotomies and 10 transventricular dilatations. The hospital survival rate was 87.5% (35/40) with no significant difference between the methods of valvotomy (9/10 in the transventricular dilatation group, 90%; 26/30 in the open valvotomy group, 87%). Although multiple methods of perfusion and valvotomy were used, the single unifying factor of cardiopulmonary bypass stabilization was present in all 40 patients. No significant difference in survival was noted between institutions, methods of cardiopulmonary bypass, cardiopulmonary bypass times, crossclamp times, or method of valvotomy. There have been five reoperations, with one late death in a patient requiring mitral valve replacement and an apical-aortic conduit. One sudden death occurred; autopsy revealed endocardial fibroelastosis. Results demonstrate that in the three institutions using the methods described, a high operative and late survival rate is possible. The results of this technique, against which percutaneous dilatation should be compared, are standard in the current era.     

The feasibility of closed mitral valvotomy in pregnancy

Rheumatic mitral valve stenosis is an important nonobstetric complication of pregnancy in an African country. Between January 1965 and September 1985 41 closed mitral valvotomies with a Tubbs dilator were performed in 39 pregnant women (two first trimester, 22 second trimester, and 17 third trimester). All patients experienced symptomatic improvement from New York Heart Association Class 3.01 (average) preoperatively to 1.22 postoperatively. There were no deaths related to the operation and delivery. Fetal deaths were due to postoperative spontaneous abortion in two cases (4.9%) or premature labour in three cases (7.3%), for an overall survival of 36 babies (87.8%). Fetal morbidity was due to prematurity or dismaturity in three infants, all of whom survived. Thirty-three normal infants were delivered at term. Nine patients needed subsequent surgical procedures for mitral valve restenosis 5 to 17 years (mean 10.2 years) after the initial closed valvotomy: Repeat closed valvotomy was performed in three patients after 5, 8, and 10 years (the first two during subsequent pregnancies), an open procedure was performed in one after 6 years, and five patients underwent subsequent mitral valve replacement after 11 (two), 12 (two), and 17 (one) years. Two late deaths occurred; one after 10 years, as a result of pneumonia and meningitis, and the other after 12 years, before a mitral valve replacement for restenosis could be performed. None of the remaining patients has required further surgical procedures, but two have moderate symptoms. Closed mitral valvotomy gives satisfactory results in pregnant patients with severe mitral stenosis. When indicated during pregnancy, it should be performed at any stage of the pregnancy.     

Surgery for the valvular disease in children

We report the results and long-term follow up in 34 children (17 girls and 17 boys, aged 12 days to 13 years, average age 3.3 years, average body weight 11.7 kg) who underwent valvular surgery in the period between May 1989 and November 1996. Operative mortality was 11.8%. Actuarial survival curves (including hospital mortality) indicate a 68.6% survival rate at 5 years and that 64.7% of patients are free from reoperation at 5 years. For aortic regurgitation two patients applied aortic valvuloplasty and four applied aortic valve replacement. Nine children had aortic stenosis, three of them had balloon valvuloplasty, seven had valvotomy, two had aortic valve replacement. Ten patients were treated for mitral regurgitation. There were nine valvuloplasty and four mitral valve replacement including three times of reoperation. One membranous pulmonary atresia and seven pulmonary stenosis children had valvotomy. There were four cases of tricuspid disease. One had tricuspid valve stenosis with pulmonary stenosis, three had severe tricuspid regurgitation who applied tricuspid valve replacement. Mortality was high in the critical AS, severe MR and TVR groups. Patients who survived the surgery and had no complications showed satisfiable results.     

Restenosis of the Mitral Valve: Surgical Considerations and Results of Operation

Our experience over an eight-year period with 63 consecutive patients with mitral restenosis who underwent operation forms the basis for this report. Striking clinical disability was a notable finding. A majority of the patients were less than 30 years old. Embolic phenomena were rare. Closed transventricular valvotomy offers excellent low-risk palliation and good long-term results.Follow-up showed excellent or good results in 90.5% of the patients and poor results in 9.5%. Hemodynamic study of 6 patients demonstrated a pronounced decrease in the pulmonary artery pressure. Open valvotomy was performed in 6 subjects. The presence of intracardiac calcification together with mild mitral incompetence in 2 patients made valve replacement mandatory. The problem of restenosis of the mitral valve is complex, and only after further long-term results are available will the superiority of any one method be demonstrated.     

Actuarial analysis of late results after closed mitral valvotomy

The long-term results of closed mitral valvotomy performed between 1978 and 1985 in 198 patients with noncalcific mitral stenosis were analyzed. Follow-up data were available on 185 patients (93%); 1 patient died in the postoperative period, and 12 foreign patients were lost to follow-up. At the 4-year and 8-year intervals, 91% and 80% of patients, respectively, were event free (not in need of further operative procedures). By multivariate analysis, the factor preoperative mild mitral regurgitation showed a tendency to influence the event-free period. By univariate analysis, postoperative mitral regurgitation significantly reduced the event-free period. Twenty-one patients subsequently underwent mitral valve replacement; 8 for mitral regurgitation, 10 for mitral stenosis, and 3 for mixed mitral regurgitation and stenosis. By multivariate analysis, the reason for reoperation significantly influenced the length of the event-free period. The patients with mitral regurgitation required mitral valve replacement sooner than those with mitral stenosis. Advanced age, sex, previous valvotomy, preoperative New York Heart Association Functional Class, low mitral valve leaflet excursion, and pulmonary hypertension had no influence on the long-term result.     

Early open mitral valve surgery following arterial embolism

A report is presented of nine patients who underwent early open mitral valve surgery after arterial embolism had occurred. Five of these patients suffered an early second arterial embolism before their mitral operation, an observation which stresses the risk inherent in delay of mitral valve surgery. The demonstration of atrial thrombi in four illustrates the potential danger of closed valvotomy techniques in such cases. Advanced pathological changes and severe stenosis of the mitral valve were found in all nine patients; valve replacement had to be done in three. All nine patients are alive and well after follow-up from 6 to 42 months. No further thromboembolic events have occurred after mitral valve surgery.     

Closed commissurotomy for mitral stenosis: Obsolete or relevant?

Between 1956 and 1989, 5326 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis were treated with closed mitral commissurotomy. Two-thousand one-hundred and fourteen (39.7%) were in New York Heart Association functional Class IV. The overall hospital mortality was 3.1 per cent and during the last ten years only 1.55 per cent. Five-thousand two-hundred and twenty (98.0%) patients had a satisfactory surgical result. In the remaining patients the commissurotomy was inadequate, 16(0.3%) requiring emergency valve replacement. An actuarial analysis showed a 94.0, 89.4, 85.0 and 78.3 per cent survival at six, 12, 18 and 24 years respectively without requiring a second procedure. The incidence of restenosis varied from 4.2 per cent to 11.4 per cent per 1000 patients/year between the fifth and fifteenth yeart of follow-up. Closed transventricular re-commissurotomy was carried out in 200 patients. Based on this experience we prefer and recommend closed commissurotomy as the palliative procedure of choice in rheumatic mitral stenosis.     

Mitral stenosis with atrial fibrillation: Surgical considerations and results of operation

Between 1968 and 1979, 2309 patients underwent closed mitral commissurotomy. Among these, 252 subjects (10.9%) were in atrial fibrillation at the time of surgery. 148 were males and the rest females. Majority of them (214) were on anticoagulant therapy prior to surgery. In 52.8 percent patients, the surgical approach was through the left atrial appendage and the remainder through the body of the atrium. 100 subjects (37%) had clots in the left atrium at the time of surgery. Thirty-five patients gave a history of major preoperative embolic episode. Only few (21) underwent cardiac catheterisation before surgery. Concomitant closed aortic valvotomy was done in five subjects. One subject underwent a closed triple valvotomy, tricuspid valve included. The incidence of embolic episode in the immediate postoperative period was only 0.4 percent. Hospital mortality was 3.9 percent. Five subjects required reoperation 6 to 12 years after the initial valvotomy. There were 5 late deaths. Follow-up over a period of 2 to 13 years showed excellent or good results in 96.3 percent. There was no instance of postoperative embolism in the long term survivors. Eighteen patients have reverted back to sinus rhythm.     

Conservative approach to the treatment of mixed mitral valve disease

Belcher, J. R. (1973). Thorax, 28, 608-612. Conservative approach to the treatment of mixed mitral valve disease. One hundred patients with mixed mitral valve disease have been treated with the `stand-by' bypass principle. In 59 the valve was replaced; in 41 a closed transventricular valvotomy was done. The results in the two groups have been compared.     

Surgery for critical aortic stenosis in newborns is still good therapy after 25 years.

Because of the high operative mortality in newborn infants with critical aortic stenosis, new therapeutic modalities have emerged. The authors reviewed their results of surgery for this condition in newborn infants between January 1964 and December 1990. Thirty-seven infants were operated on for critical aortic stenosis, which was diagnosed at a mean patient age of 14.5 days. The surgical procedure was done at a mean patient age of 37 days. Five infants died intraoperatively of ventricular fibrillation at the time of incision. Transventricular valvotomy was attempted in 4 infants, and the remaining 28 infants underwent transaortic valvuloplasty. Overall survival improved markedly in the last 5 years of the study, from 31% to 75%. All patients who had transventricular valvotomy died, as did the only infant with previous percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty. Of the infants who died, 38% weighed less than 3000 g at the time of operation compared with 13% of the survivors (p < 0.05). The duration of cardiopulmonary bypass was also identified as a risk factor (p = 0.001). Of the surviving infants, 93% were followed up at a mean of 66 months. All but one were in New York Heart functional class I or II. The following risk factors were identified for operative mortality: year of surgery, preoperative hemodynamic condition, associated anomalies of the left ventricle, surgical weight less than 3000 g, transventricular valvotomy, year of surgery and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass. Because of the much improved survival recently, surgery remains a good therapeutic choice for critical aortic stenosis in the newborn infant.     

Second closed mitral valvotomy for recurrent mitral stenosis.

Sixty-seven patients undergoing a second closed mitral valvotomy between 1957 and 1974 have been reviewed. Since 1951, 510 patients have had a primary closed valvotomy in the same unit. The incidence of restenosis severe enough to warrant further surgery is higher after a finger fracture procedure (40%) than after a Tubbs dilator valvotomy (9.2%). There is an operative mortality of 10.4%, and a further late mortality of 23.8% after a second closed valvotomy. Of the surviving patients, 70.5% have had a good or excellent result. The group with poor results is characterised by the presence of a calcified fixed valve, making valvotomy difficult and incomplete. In the presence of a non-calcified valve, a second valvotomy still has a place when surgery for restenosis is required.     

Critical Pulmonary Stenosis in Infants Less than Three Months of Age: A Reappraisal of Closed Transventricular Pulmonary Valvotomy

Sixteen patients less than 3 months of age underwent closed transventricular pulmonary valvotomy for critical pulmonary stenosis with intact ventricular septum. There were 14 survivors; the 2 deaths were unrelated to the technique. Early and late results reveal good hemodynamics in all but 1 patient who underwent open valvotomy four years later for restenosis. We have used this technique exclusively, as it is safe, requires little preparation for operative relief in the very sick infant, and the early and late results are excellent.     

Repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect with tetralogy of Fallot

Repair of complete atrioventricular canal with tetralogy of Fallot was performed in 9 patients. Ventricular septal defect was closed through the right atrium using a single polytetrafluoroethylene patch with ample anterior extension to avoid subaortic obstruction. The atrial septal defect was closed with a separate patch. Undivided atrioventricular valve leaflets were sandwiched between the two patches. Right ventricular outflow tract stenosis was relieved by pulmonary valvotomy and an infundibular patch in 7, a supravalvar patch (none transannular) in 6, and right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery conduit in 2. There was one hospital death (1/9, 11%) in a patient with persistent clinically significant postoperative pulmonary stenosis and low cardiac output requiring reoperation and right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery conduit insertion. There was no late mortality. All patients are asymptomatic 0.3 to 5.6 years after operation. Follow-up right ventricular outflow tract gradient ranged from 11 to 43 mm Hg and was 70 mm Hg in 1 patient who later had successful relief of obstruction. Three patients had mitral valve insufficiency; 1 needed reoperation. Aggressive relief of right ventricular outflow tract stenosis with maintenance of pulmonary valve competence and use of two separate patches for closure of the septal defects contribute to optimum immediate and long-term results after repair of this lesion.     

Restenosis of the mitral valve.

It is suggested that restenosis is inevitable after mitral valvotomy and that only the time taken for it to occur is variable. The major factor affecting the lapse of time between operations is the extent of the original valvotomy. Calification of the valve is less important, and coincident mitral incompetence and the age of the patient have almost no influence on the time taken for restenosis to develop. A study has been made of 281 second closed valvotomies and 53 third ones. The operative mortality for second closed valvotomy was 6.7% and for third closed valvotomy 4%. Late emboli were rare. The average follow-up period after second valvotomies was 12.8 years: the condition of 29% of these patients was still satisfactory; 21% had had third valvotomies. At 5 years the condition of 53% was satisfactory. The average length of follow-up after third valvotomy was 6.4 years: the condition of 47% of patients was still satisfactory and the results were similar to those after second valvotomy. It is concluded that closed valvotomy remains the operation of choice when restenosis has occurred.