Mitral valve surgery for dilated cardiomyopathy with mitral regurgitation

Outcomes of surgery for non-ischemic non-valvular dilated cardiomyopathy with associated mitral regurgitation were assessed in 8 consecutive patients who underwent 9 mitral valve operations between 2001 and 2004. Mitral valve replacement was performed when the coaptation depth exceeded 10 mm. Two patients initially underwent mitral valvuloplasty, and 6 underwent valve replacement. One patient had valve replacement soon after valvuloplasty. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed immediately before surgery, before discharge, and during follow-up. Transesophageal echocardiography was carried out intraoperatively to assess valvular and ventricular function. Postoperative mean functional class was significantly better than the preoperative value (2.4 +/- 0.7 vs. 3.3 +/- 0.7), and the improvement was sustained during follow-up (2.0 +/- 0.7). The ejection fraction and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension did not improve. One patient died without leaving hospital and two died during follow-up. The 2- and 4-year survival rates were 75.0% and 37.5%. Mitral valve surgery improved functional class without obvious changes in ejection fraction or left ventricular end-diastolic dimension.