冠状动脉旁路移植术同期行心脏瓣膜置换手术59例临床分析

目的 研究冠状动脉旁路移植同时行心脏瓣膜置换手术治疗非缺血性心脏瓣膜疾病合并冠心病的疗效.方法 59例冠状动脉旁路移植同时行瓣膜置换手术,包括二尖瓣瓣膜病变40例及主动脉瓣瓣膜病变11例,联合瓣膜病变8例,共搭桥132支.根据患者年龄及病变血管情况选用乳内动脉或大隐静脉作为血管桥.结果 本组1例术后1d死亡,死亡原因是严重的低心排综合征,搭桥4根.其他病例术后随访2个月至7年,均没有明显心绞痛复发并且心功能得到改善.结论 非缺血性心脏瓣膜疾病合并冠心病患者一般无典型心绞痛病史,有冠心病高危因素的患者术前应该常规行冠状动脉造影检查明确是否合并冠心病.采取术前改善心功能状态,缩短手术及心肌缺血时间等措施,同时行冠状动脉旁路移植手术及心脏瓣膜手术是有效可行的治疗手段.     

同期施行冠状动脉旁路移植术与心瓣膜手术

目的　为了提高同期施行冠状动脉旁路移植术 (CABG)与心瓣膜手术的疗效 ,降低死亡率 ,总结手术及围术期处理的经验。　方法　 2 4例患者中 ,二尖瓣病变 11例 ,主动脉瓣病变 3例 ,二尖瓣、主动脉瓣双瓣膜病变 10例。 1支冠状动脉病变 1例 ,2支 11例 ,3支 6例 ,另 6例为心瓣膜手术中发现左冠状动脉开口有阻塞 ,急症行 CABG。全组行二尖瓣成形术 2例 ,二尖瓣置换术 9例 ,主动脉瓣置换术 3例 ,二尖瓣、主动脉瓣双瓣膜置换术 10例 ;移植 1支血管 7例 ,2支 11例 ,3支 6例。　结果　术后早期 (30天内 )死亡 2例 ,分别死于低心排血量综合征和多器官功能衰竭。随访 2 2例 ,随访时间 8个月～ 7年 ,晚期死亡 1例 ,其余 2 1例心功能明显改善 ,心功能 (NYHA分级 ) 级 15例 , 级 5例 , 级 1例 ,心绞痛消失 7例。　结论　冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病和心脏瓣膜疾病并存时 ,应同期施行CABG和心瓣膜手术 ,彻底纠正心脏病变。术中加强心肌保护 ,尽量缩短心肌缺血时间 ;术后妥善处理心、肾等器官功能衰竭 ,是提高手术疗效的重要措施     

再次直视心脏瓣膜置换术疗效分析

目的 总结再次直视心脏瓣膜置换术的治疗体会.方法 2002年1月至2009年12月完成再次直视心脏瓣膜置换术104例,占同期瓣膜置换手术的2.92%(104/3557).男性53例,女性51例,年龄13～72岁,平均(46±14)岁.心功能(NYHA分级)Ⅱ级7例,Ⅲ级67例,Ⅳ级30例.其中二尖瓣或主动脉瓣置换术后其他瓣膜病变28例,二尖瓣瓣膜成形术后再发二尖瓣关闭不全10例,瓣周漏19例,生物瓣衰败7例,先天性心脏病矫治术再发瓣膜病变18例,人工瓣膜心内膜炎10例,人工瓣膜机械功能障碍9例,其他3例.再次手术方式包括二尖瓣和主动脉瓣双瓣置换2例,二尖瓣置换59例,主动脉瓣置换24例,三尖瓣置换16例,Bentall术3例.两次手术间隔1个月～19年.结果 全组早期死亡8例,早期死亡主要原因为术后低心排血量综合征、肾功能不全或多脏器功能衰竭,病死率7.7%.术中大出血2例,术后再次开胸止血2例,胸骨正中切口感染1例.随访3个月～7年2个月,平均3年4个月.晚期死亡2例,1例抗凝过量颅内出血,另1例原因不明.其余存活患者术后半年随访心功能(NYHA分级)Ⅰ级67例,Ⅱ级27例.结论 再次换瓣手术如恰当掌握手术时机、术中加强心肌保护、保证准确的手术操作、注重围手术期处理,临床近、远期效果满意.     

心脏瓣膜病再次手术221例临床分析

目的总结既往有二尖瓣闭式扩张术、瓣膜成形术、瓣周漏及生物瓣失功能等的患者再次瓣膜手术的经验。方法自1998年1月至2005年8月,实施心脏瓣膜病再次手术221例,其中急症手术8例。其中二尖瓣闭式扩张后再狭窄105例,二尖瓣或主动脉瓣成形术后复发性瓣膜病变37例,瓣周漏29例,生物瓣衰败18例,其他瓣膜再发病变11例,人工瓣膜机械功能障碍9例,Ebstein畸形矫治术后三尖瓣关闭不全7例,人工瓣膜心内膜炎5例。再次手术方式包括二尖瓣置换、二尖瓣和主动脉瓣双瓣置换、主动脉瓣置换、三尖瓣置换。两次手术间隔时间1～21年。结果全组术后死亡19例,占8．6％。早期死亡主要原因为术后低心排综合征、恶性心律失常、多脏器功能衰竭与肾功能衰竭,其中急症手术8例中死亡3例,术前心功能Ⅳ级者手术死亡9例,病死率为14．5％（9／62例）。结论瓣膜病再次手术危险因素包括急症手术、术前心功能差、合并其他重要脏器功能不全、体外循环时间和主动脉阻断时间长等。针对这些因素积极防治,可以进一步降低这类患者手术病死率和并发症发生率。     

老年患者二尖瓣置换同期行冠状动脉旁路移植术的临床分析

目的总结老年二尖瓣疾病合并冠心病患者心瓣膜置换术同期行冠状动脉旁路移植术（CABG）的经验，以提高临床效果。方法2002年7月至2004年7月我科共30例老年二尖瓣疾病患者二尖瓣置换术同期行CABG。年龄66．0±9．1岁（60～73岁），4例为风湿性瓣膜病变，26例为二尖瓣瓣膜退行性病变。术前心功能分级（NYHA）：Ⅰ级3例，Ⅱ级5例，Ⅲ级17例，Ⅳ级5例。共移植旁路血管71支，使用左侧乳内动脉24例，其余均为大隐静脉。置换机械瓣27例，置换生物瓣3例；行三尖瓣De Vega成形术17例。结果术后早期死亡1例（3．3％）。随访29例，平均随访时间13个月，心功能均有明显改善，Ⅰ级18例，Ⅱ级10例，Ⅲ级1例，可从事简单的运动及正常家务劳动，生活质量满意。结论老年二尖瓣疾病患者二尖瓣置换术同期行CABG的危险性较大，充分的术前准备，正确的手术方案，术中良好的心肌保护及严密的术后处理是手术成功的重要因素。     

重症心脏瓣膜病的外科治疗

目的总结重症心脏瓣膜病的外科治疗结果,探讨提高早期生存率的措施。方法自2000年6月至2005年7月,对78例重症心脏瓣膜病患者施行瓣膜替换术。其中单纯二尖瓣置换12例,二尖瓣置换 三尖瓣成形22例,单纯主动脉瓣置换8例,二尖瓣 主动脉瓣置换 三尖瓣成形35例,二尖瓣置换 冠状动脉旁路移植术1例。结果死亡6例,其中术后并发低心排血量5例,心室颤动治疗无效死亡1例,死亡率7.69%。随访53例,平均随访2.5年,死亡5例。结论对重症心脏瓣膜病患者,注重改善术前心功能,掌握手术时机,尽量保留瓣下组织,选择合适瓣膜,重视围手术期处理,可提高手术成功率。     

同期施行瓣膜和冠状动脉手术的危险因素

目的探讨行冠状动脉旁路手术同时行心脏瓣膜手术的危险因素。方法回顾性分析2000年12月至2005年1月间126例行体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术（CABG）同期行瓣膜手术患者的临床资料。按照性别分为男性组和女性组,男84例,女42例。采用胸骨正中切口,2组都在中度低温体外循环心脏停跳下完成搭桥和瓣膜手术。结果2组患者术前体重、糖尿病及风湿性二尖瓣狭窄、冠状动脉三支血管病变等差异都有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,患者术后病死率和并发症的发生率差异有统计学意义,二尖瓣置换手术女性明显多于男性（P〈0．05）,男性组术后死亡5例,其中心脏衰竭1例,应激性高血糖昏迷1例,严重心律失常2例,心。肾肺多脏器衰竭1例;女性组术后死亡7例,其中心脏衰竭1例,应激性溃疡消化道大出血1例,严重心律失常3例,心肾肺多脏器衰竭2例。结论CABG同期行瓣膜手术是安全有效的,女性的并发症发生率和病死率高于男性,这与女性的低体重及风湿性二尖瓣狭窄病变等构成独立的危险因素有关。     

左胸前外侧小切口不停跳冠状动脉旁路移植术26例

目的探讨左胸前外侧小切口不停跳冠状动脉旁路移植术的效果.方法26例单支或2支血管病变经左胸前外侧小切口进胸,其中14例直视下游离乳内动脉,12例在胸腔镜辅助下游离,肝素化后切开心包,显露病变的靶血管,心脏跳动下行冠状动脉旁路移植术.结果26例手术顺利完成,22例旁路移植1支,4例旁路移植2支(1例行序贯吻合,3例桡动脉与乳内动脉行"Y"形吻合).术后无死亡及严重并发症.26例随访3个月～3年,平均16.8月,无心绞痛复发,心功能Ⅰ级18例,Ⅱ级8例.结论左前外侧小切口不停跳冠状动脉旁路移植术主要适用于前降支单支病变者,对于合并高危因素,不宜行常规冠状动脉旁路移植的多支血管病变病人亦适用.     

非缺血性心脏瓣膜疾病合并冠心病同期手术治疗的临床分析

目的 总结非缺血性心脏瓣膜疾病合并冠心病同期手术患者的临床特征和手术效果,以提高手术疗效. 方法 2000年1月至2007年6月同期手术治疗105例非缺血性心脏瓣膜疾病合并冠心病患者,年龄36～79岁(61.96±7.61岁),其中风湿性心瓣膜疾病59例,退行性二尖瓣病变24例,老年性钙化性主动脉瓣病变13例;其它主动脉瓣病变9例.术前行冠状动脉造影明确诊断98例,术中探查发现冠心病7例.全组均行冠状动脉旁路移植术,共移植血管216支(2.06支/例),同期行二尖瓣置换术36例,二尖瓣成形术15例,主动脉瓣置换术43例,双瓣膜置换术11例. 结果 术后住院死亡6例(5.7%,6/105).死于严重低心排血量3例,肾功能衰竭2例,术后心脏骤停并发多器官功能衰竭1例.术后随访93例,随访时间1个月至7年,失访6例.无晚期死亡患者.心功能分级(NYHA)Ⅰ级25例,Ⅱ级53例,Ⅲ级10例,Ⅳ级5例.1例患者活动后仍有心绞痛存在. 结论 非缺血性心脏瓣膜疾病合并冠心病患者绝大多数无典型的心绞痛症状,50岁以上的患者必须行冠状动脉造影检查,对有冠心病易患因素者,应积极作冠状动脉造影检查;冠心病所致的心肌缺血可明显加重心脏瓣膜疾病所引起的心肌损害,术中心肌保护尤为重要;正确评价术前左心功能低下的患者是选择手术治疗的难点,更是影响手术效果的关键因素.     

冠状动脉旁路移植术后并发心房颤动21例

我科自2001年2月～2004年4月施行冠状动脉旁路移植术(CABG)85例,术后发生心房颤动(AF)21例,现对术后AF的治疗体会进行总结。1临床资料与方法本组共21例,男16例,女5例;年龄41～80岁。心功能(NYHA分级)I级4例,级12例,级3例,级2例。患者术前均为窦性心律,既往有心房颤动史(包括阵发性或持续性)、合并瓣膜病变、行CABG和心瓣膜置换或成形术的患者除外。手术均在体外循环下进行,心肌保护采用常温温血(血液∶晶体液为4∶1)心脏停搏液经主动脉根部灌注并辅助移植血管灌注(每完成1支血管移植即参与灌注)。有病变的冠状动脉4.12±1.62支,移植…     

Bypass graft material and myocardial protective procedure in combined coronary artery bypass grafting and valve surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The aortic cross clamping time is prone to be longer when coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is combined with valve surgery. Therefore, the myocardium that is revascularized by in-situ internal thoracic artery graft is at risk to ischemia, and, myocardial protection is especially important in such operation. In this study, the effect of myocardial preservation of combined antegrade, retrograde and terminal warm blood cardioplegia during combined valve surgery and CABG using the internal thoracic artery as a bypass conduit was evaluated. METHODS: From November 1992 to August 1999, 15 patients received combined CABG and valve surgery. Among these 15 patients, 13 patients who did not need hemodialysis were divided into 2 groups, and a comparative study was done. In Group I (n = 5), only the saphenous vein graft was employed for combined CABG and valve surgery, and myocardial protection was done by combined antegrade and terminal warm blood cardioplegia. In Group II (n = 8), at least 1 in-situ internal thoracic artery graft was employed for CABG and valve surgery, and myocardial protection was done by combined antegrade, retrograde and terminal warm blood cardioplegia. RESULTS: Despite longer aortic cross clamping time in Group II, the peak creatine kinase-MB of Group II was significantly lower. In addition, the postoperative administration of dopamine tended to be less in Group II. CONCLUSION: Myocardial protection by combined antegrade, retrograde and terminal warm blood cardioplegia may be an effective adjunct to combined valve surgery and CABG employing the in-situ internal thoracic artery graft.     

Management of mild to moderate aortic valve disease during coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVE: The long term survival of patients with mild to moderate aortic valve disease who do not have valve replacement at the time of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is unknown. Therefore we have reviewed our experience with such patients. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of consecutive patients between June 1978 and December 1996, and identified 40 patients with mild to moderate aortic valve disease, who underwent CABG, without valve replacement (study group). Mean preoperative aortic gradient was 34 mmHg and mean intraoperative gradient 20 mmHg. Eleven patients underwent valve inspection, and an equal number, underwent valve repair. The records of 61 other patients with severe aortic valve disease, who underwent concomitant aortic valve replacement (AVR) and CABG (control group), were also reviewed. RESULTS: Survival was significantly better in the control group. Eleven patients (27.5%) in the study group underwent reoperation for AVR, with no operative mortality. Multivariate analysis confirmed valve replacement at initial CABG to be the only predictor of survival (beta=0.586,P=0.038) Preoperative gradient <40 mmHg, intraoperative gradient <20 mmHg, age over 70, sex, aortic stenosis and valve pathology did not predict survival in the study group. CONCLUSION: Patients with mild to moderate aortic valve disease undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting may be best served by valve replacement, rather than repair, inspection or no procedure.     

Combined valve replacement and myocardial revascularization

Combining valve replacement with coronary artery bypass (CABG) for significant concomitant disease remains a controversial subject. To determine the operative results following combined valve replacement and CABG, we evaluated 201 patients seen consecutively between July 1977 and June 1982. CABG for vessels with greater than 70% stenosis was performed with aortic valve replacement in 106 patients, with mitral valve replacement in 82, and with aortic and mitral valve replacement in 13. There were 143 men and 58 women; the mean age was 67 years. Nine operative deaths (8.5%) occurred with aortic valve replacement and CABG: 5 of 25 (20%) when cardioplegia was not used and 4 of 81 (4.9%) with cardioplegia (p less than 0.01). The operative mortality rate for isolated aortic valve replacement without coronary disease during the same period was 5.9% (10 of 168). The late actuarial survival rate is similar for aortic valve replacement alone or aortic valve replacement and CABG. There were no operative deaths among patients having undergone aortic and mitral valve replacement and CABG; the rate was 15% (9 of 60) in patients having undergone aortic and mitral replacement and CABG. The operative mortality rate was 21.9% for mitral valve replacement and CABG (18 of 82). Rheumatic disease was present in 14 of these patients, two of whom had early deaths (14.3%), both after repeat mitral operations; 11 mitral valve replacements and CABG were done for degenerative mitral regurgitation with no deaths, and the remaining 57 patients had ischemic mitral regurgitation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Mortality and morbidity among patients who undergo combined valve and coronary artery bypass surgery: Early and late results

Aim: To describe mortality and morbidity early and late after combined valve surgery and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) as compared with CABG alone. Patients and methods: All patients from western Sweden in whom CABG in combination with valve surgery or CABG alone was carried out in 1988–1991. Results: Among 2116 patients who underwent CABG, 35 (2%) had this combined with mitral valve surgery and 134 (6%) had this combined with aortic valve surgery, whereas the remaining 92% underwent CABG alone. Patients who underwent combined valve surgery and CABG were older, included more women and had a higher prevalence of previous congestive heart failure and renal dysfunction but on the other hand a less severe coronary artery disease. Among patients who underwent mitral valve surgery in combination with CABG the mortality over the subsequent 5 years was 45%. The corresponding figure for patients who underwent aortic valve surgery in combination with CABG was 24%. Both were higher than for CABG alone (14%; P<0.0001 and P=0.003, respectively). In a stepwise multiple regression model mitral valve surgery in combination with CABG was found to be an independent significant predictor for death but aortic valve surgery in combination with CABG was not. Among patients who underwent mitral valve surgery in combination with CABG and were discharged alive from hospital 77% were rehospitalized during the 2 years following the operation as compared with 48% among patients who underwent aortic valve surgery in combination with CABG and 43% among patients with CABG alone. Multiple regression identified mitral valve surgery in combination with CABG as a significant independent predictor for rehospitalization but not aortic valve plus CABG. Conclusion: Among patients who either underwent CABG in combination with mitral valve surgery or aortic valve surgery or CABG alone, mitral valve surgery in combination with CABG was independently associated with death and rehospitalization, but the combination of aortic valve surgery and CABG was not.     

心脏不停跳下行瓣膜置换及冠状动脉旁路移植术

目的 总结心脏不停跳下瓣膜置换及冠状动脉旁路移植术的体会,并评估其疗效.方法 对2005年1月至2007年8月12例同时合并冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病和心脏瓣膜病的病人进行手术.病人术前均存在心绞痛症状,心功能为Ⅱ～Ⅳ级,术前射血分数平均0.53±0.23.不停跳下进行冠状动脉旁路移植及瓣膜置换术,比较术前及术后相关心功能指标.结果 病人均痊愈出院.平均移植血管(3.4±1.5)支.复查时所有病人均无症状.心功能及射血分数均显著提高(P<0.001).结论 在心脏不停跳下行瓣膜置换及冠状动脉旁路移植术可行,并发症少.术后早期心功能、自主症状及生活质量均显著改善.远期疗效尚需观察.     

Cardiac operations in patients with functioning renal allografts

The Transplant Service at the University of Minnesota Hospitals has performed over 2,000 kidney transplants. Fourteen of these patients have developed cardiac conditions necessitating surgical intervention at intervals of 9 to 144 months (mean 67 months) following their transplantation. These individuals had a mean age of 42 years, and five (36%) were diabetic. All patients had functioning renal allografts with preoperative serum creatinine levels ranging from 1.0 to 1.8 mg/100 ml (mean 1.4 mg/100 ml). Ten patients underwent aorta-coronary saphenous vein bypass grafting. One patient underwent bypass grafting and concomitant left ventricular aneurysmectomy. Native valvular endocarditis developed in two patients. One had tricuspid valve debridement for fungal endocarditis and the other had aortic valve replacement for bacterial endocarditis. The final patient had calcific aortic stenosis and coronary artery disease necessitating aortic valve replacement and coronary bypass. Two patients (14%) died perioperatively. One was a young woman with juvenile-onset diabetes and preinfarction angina who died suddenly several days after the operation; at autopsy, she was found to have an occluded graft to the right coronary artery and extensive infarction. The other was a 54-year-old woman with calcific aortic stenosis, coronary artery disease, and unstable angina who died perioperatively of uncontrollable arrhythmias. Autopsy suggested that she may have had an unsuspected infarction 1 to 2 days before the operation. The remaining 12 patients had uneventful postoperative courses and returned to Class I functional status from a cardiac standpoint. There has been one late death (7%), 45 months after successful coronary artery bypass grafting, as a result of complications attendant to a perforated gastric ulcer. The remaining 11 patients are alive and well at intervals of 8 to 93 months (mean 31 months) after operation. Postoperative serum creatinine levels at hospital discharge averaged 1.6 mg/100 ml, not significantly changed from preoperative levels. Cardiac operations can be performed safely in patients with functioning renal allografts. Patient survival is acceptable and preservation of renal function has been uniformly successful in surviving patients.     

Combined mitral valve and coronary artery surgery

During the past 10 years, 50 patients underwent combined coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and mitral valve replacement (MVR) at our clinic, with additional aortic valve replacement (AVR) in six cases. The early mortality was 8%. During the first half of the study period this mortality was 4/11 patients, but in the second half it was 0/39. All six patients with CABG + MVR + AVR survived the operation. Adverse factors were found to be advanced functional impairment, female sex, concomitant untreated aortic valvulopathy and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance. All 46 patients who survived the operation were followed up for a mean period of 31 months, and during that time there were nine deaths. The survival rate was 54% after 3 years and 40% after 5 years. Most of the patients had improved by at least one functional class. The good results in this series probably were attributable to improvements in surgical procedure (introduction of cold potassium cardioplegia) and in postoperative management (intra-aortic balloon pumping).     

冠状动脉旁路移植术1018例临床分析

目的总结、探讨冠状动脉搭桥术的外科技术及临床治疗效果。方法回顾分析1997—2004年同一术者完成的冠状动脉搭桥术1018例患者的临床资料,其中非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术(OPCAB)510例,体外循环下冠状动脉旁路移植术(CCABG)508例。≥60岁的患者582例(57.2%)。不稳定性心绞痛患者852例;术前同时合并其他疾病患者784例(77.0%),包括瓣膜病、高血压病、糖尿病、陈旧性心肌梗死、室壁瘤、室间隔穿孔、脑梗死、阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)、慢性肾功能不全、恶性肿瘤术后等。左主干病变156例;三支病变671例,三支病变以下347例。结果死亡4例(0.39%),总体并发症(胸骨哆开、脑梗死、纵隔炎)发生率1.6%(16/1018)。OPCAB者平均搭桥(2.5±0.4)支,CCABG者平均搭桥(3.3±0.6)支。左乳内动脉使用率93.8%(955/1018),术后早期使用主动脉内气囊反搏29例。全组随访2个月～7年,随访1002例(98.4%)。结论科学的外科策略,精湛的手术技术及麻醉、体外循环技术的改进,可使CABG术的死亡率和并发症明显下降,冠状动脉旁路移植术安全、可靠,效果满意。     

Coronary artery bypass grafting combined with aortic valve replacement in healthy octogenarians does not increase postoperative risk

OBJECTIVE: Critical aortic stenosis with or without coronary artery disease is increasingly common in octogenarians. Surgery is the treatment of choice, but indications and results of aortic valve replacement (AVR), particularly when combined with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are debated. We investigated whether the combined procedure of AVR and CABG increased postoperative risk compared with isolated AVR in otherwise healthy octogenarians. DESIGN: In the period 1994-1998, AVR was performed in 94 patients above 80 years, the majority in NYHA class III and IV. Combined AVR and CABG was performed in 52/94 patients. The patients were studied retrospectively by collecting data from hospital records and followed for 0-7 years. RESULTS: Mean age was 82 +/- 2.3 years, sex (male/female) 33/61, left ventricular ejection fraction 70 +/- 18%, transvalvular peak pressure gradient 63 +/- 20 mmHg and aortic valve area 0.5 +/- 0.2 cm(2). Early mortality (< 30 days) was 4/42 (9.5%) after AVR and 4/52 (7.6%) after AVR and CABG (p = NS between groups). Three-year survival was 33/42 (78.5%) after AVR and 42/52 (80.7%) after AVR and CABG (p = NS between groups). CONCLUSION: AVR with concomitant CABG in octogenarians with aortic stenosis who are otherwise healthy, may be performed without increased risk.     

Mitral valve replacement: a nine-year follow-up of risks and survivals.

Experience with mitral valve replacement over a nine-year period is reviewed. Hospital mortality was 8.9%, with an additional late mortality of 18.5% during a mean follow-up period of 4.34 years. Study of the factors influencing the results of valve replacement revealed a direct correlation between long-term survival and New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Class, as judged preoperatively, as well as left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, cardiac index, type of valve lesion, and presence of associated coronary artery disease. Hospital mortality was 32% (p less than 0.01) for those patients in NYHA Functional Class IV before operation, compared with 3% for Class III patients. Untreated concomitant coronary artery disease was associated with a significantly higher perioperative mortality of 28% (p = 0.002) compared with an 8% mortality in patients with coronary artery disease treated by vein bypass at the time of mitral valve replacement. Patients with normal coronary arteries documented angiographically before operation had a 1% hospital mortality. Seventy-two percent of all patients are still alive at a maximum follow-up of nine years. Eighty-three percent of those survivors who were in Functional Class III or IV before operation are now considered to be in Class I or II. We conclude that patients should undergo mitral valve replacement before the development of the advanced functional stage of valve disease. In addition, coronary arteriograms should be performed on all patients who are more than 40 years old at the time of cardiac catheterization, and revascularization considered at the time of mitral valve replacement for those patients with significant coronary disease.