Haemodynamic and Pulmonary Function Following Mitral Valve Replacement

Haemodynamic and pulmonary functional data were recorded in 10 patients undergoing mitral valve replacement with the Björk—Shiley tilting disc valve. Within 48 hours after surgery, mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreased from 27.9 mmHg pre-operatively to 14.3 mmHg, while mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) remained elevated at 31.3 mmHg. Although the cardiac index rose to 2.9 1/min·m², pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) increased in the first 3 days. PAP and PVR had returned to normal at late control 6–10 months postoperatively. Vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second both showed a mean improvement of 15% at late control. Simple spirometry may be a valid indirect method of assessing easily and objectively the efficacy of mitral valve replacement.