[Clinical analyses of cardiovascular operations in patients with severe dilated left ventricle]

To explore the perioperative features of surgical treatment in valvular patients with severe dilated left ventricle and investigate the structural changes of left ventricle and its correlation with cardiac functions.

A total of 126 patients with severe dilated left ventricle underwent mitral valve and/or aortic valve operation from January 2003 to December 2008, including mitral valve replacement (MVR) (n = 27), mitral valvuloplasty (MVP) (n = 13), aortic valve replacement (AVR) (n = 51), AVR+MVR (n = 25) and AVR + MVP (n = 10). There were 79 males and 47 females with a mean age of (52 ± 13) years old. The mean pathological course was (18 ± 12) years. The pathological changes were mainly of aortic and/or mitral incompetence. The concomitant procedures included Bentall procedure (n = 6), coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 3), tricuspid valvuloplasty (n = 58) and left atrial folding (n = 62).

The perioperative mortality was 3.17% (4/126). Two died of multiple organ failure (MOF) secondarily to severe low-output syndrome while another 2 died of sudden ventricular fibrillation. Forty-six (36.5%) patients suffered from ventricular arrhythmia during the earlier postoperative period and they required a venous injection of lidocaine and/or amiodarone. Fourteen (11.1%) patients suffered from severe low-output syndrome. Among them, 4 patients were resuscitated with an intra-aortic balloon pump for another 4 - 6 days. And 26 (20.6%) cases were complicated with multiple organ failure. The echocardiographic examinations showed that left ventricular dimensions decreased significantly at Days 7 - 14 postoperatively and progressively at Months 6 - 12 postoperatively. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) was (77 ± 6) mm preoperatively and (63 ± 12) mm (Days 7 - 14), (58 ± 10) mm (Months 6 - 12) postoperatively (P < 0.01). The contractile function of left ventricle temporarily decreased during the early postoperative stage and improved gradually afterwards. But it was not restored to normal range even until 6 - 12 m post-operation. Ejection fraction was 49% ± 12% preoperatively and 42% ± 9% (Days 7 - 14), 51% ± 7% (Months 6 - 12) postoperatively (P < 0.01). Left ventricular fraction shortness was 28% ± 7% preoperatively and 25% ± 4% (Days 7 - 14), 29% ± 5% (Months 6 - 12) postoperatively (P < 0.05).

For the patients with severe dilated left ventricle, cardiovascular operation can achieve an excellent outcome through a rigorous perioperative regiment. The prevention and treatment of postoperative ventricular arrhythmia should be emphasized. The dimension of left ventricle decreases progressively during the early postoperative period. There is a postoperative decline of cardiac functions.