Quality of life after mitral valve surgery: differences between reconstruction and replacement

Quality of life (QoL) is of increasing interest in major surgical procedures. Mitral valve reconstruction (MRr) is assumed to be better tolerated than mitral valve replacement (MVR). The study aim was to assess mid-term QoL in patients undergoing isolated mitral valve surgery.

QoL was monitored in 115 consecutive patients who had isolated mitral valve surgery (62 with MVR, 53 with MRr). Mid-term survival was assessed after a mean of 37 +/- 18 months using the SF-36 health survey questionnaire.

Patients undergoing MVR were younger (61.9 +/- 12.7 versus 64.9 +/- 12.5 years; p <0.01) and had significantly more frequently a history of left heart failure (43.5% versus 13.2%; p <0.01) than patients with MRr. No significant difference was found between the two groups when considering preoperative NYHA functional class and left ventricular function. In-hospital mortality was significant higher in MVR than in MRr patients (6.4% versus 0%; p <0.01). QoL was significantly impaired in patients with MVR in physical function (PF), role function (RF) and general health (GH) compared with patients undergoing MRr. Nevertheless, only slight impairments in two of eight aspects in MVR, and in one of eight aspects in MRr, were found compared with an age- and sex-matched standard population. Mid-term survival was similar in both groups.

Outcome after MVR was excellent, though these patients had a more advanced stage of the disease preoperatively than MRr patients. Mid-term outcome and QoL was, however, similar in the two groups.