Early and intermediate results of left ventricular reduction surgery

Left ventricular reduction surgery is a new surgical option for treatment of end-stage cardiac dysfunction, and little is known about hemodynamics and outcome in the European heart failure population. We present our early results with this operation.

From January 1995 to September 1997, 30 patients (25 men, 5 women; mean age 61.2 years) underwent partial left ventriculectomy. The underlying disease was ischemic in 18 patients and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in 12 patients. Preoperatively 23 patients were in New York Heart Association functional class IV and 7 were in class III. Mean cardiac index, stroke index and ejection fraction were 1.8 +/- 0.3 l/m2 per min, 23.5 +/- 5.1 ml/m2 and 19.3% +/- 6.8%, respectively. Associated procedures were coronary bypass in 18 patients, mitral valvuloplasty in one, aortic or mitral valve replacement in three, dynamic cardiomyoplasty in two, and left ventricular assist device implantation in 1.

There were two early deaths: one from bleeding and one from anticoagulant-related cerebral hemorrhage. Regarding late deaths, one patient died from pneumonia 3 months after the operation and two died from dysrhythmia 4 and 17 months postoperatively. The estimated 1-year survival rate calculated by the Kaplan-Meier log-rank method was 85%. Mean cardiac index, stroke index, and ejection fraction rose significantly (P = 0.0001) to 2.9 +/- 0.51/m2 per min, 36.9 +/- 6.2 ml/m2 and 37.8% +/- 9.2%, respectively. Currently 26 patients are in New York Heart Association functional class I or II.

Left ventricular reduction surgery improves objective and subjective parameters of cardiac performance significantly in early and intermediate follow-up. Randomized studies and carefully documented long-term results seem to be necessary to define the role of left ventricular reduction surgery.