[Postoperative evaluation of Carpentier's mitral rings]

38 patients with Carpentier's ring inserted in the mitral position at surgery, are studied. The grade of the pre and postoperatory mitral murmur is correlated and compared with the radiographic size of the heart and left auricle as well as the pre and postoperatory angiocardiographic study. Only 3 (7'8%) of the 38 patients presented significant elevation of the pulmonary artery sistolic pressure together with important angiographic regurgitation. These three patients had to be operated on again, 60'52% did not present murmurs on these were grade I murmurs, while 76'32% did not present mitral reguritation. Only 8 of 14 patients with grade II sistole murmur in the postoperative period had grade II regurgitation. This no correlation was observed between the intensity of the murmur and the grade of angiocardiographic mitral regurgitation. We conclude that Carpentier's ring restores the mitral valve function to normal in the majority of cases and the angiocardiographic results are favorable.