Predictors of Mortality in Patients Undergoing Mitral Valve Replacement

Although mitral valve replacement is frequently performed in patients of all age groups, there are few studies available which determine the causes of operative mortality in mitral valve replacement especially in our region. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify factors that are significantly associated with operative mortality in mitral valve replacement.

From August 2012 to March 2013, 80 consecutive patients undergoing mitral valve replacement in a single tertiary hospital were included. Patients with a history of previous coronary artery bypass graft surgery or congenital heart problems were excluded from the sample. The included patients were observed for a period of 30 days. Pre and post-operative variables were used to identify significant predictors of mortality.

The overall hospital mortality (30 days) was 15%. High post-perative creatinine (P =0.05), high ASO titre (P=0.03), young age (P=0.011), low cardiac output (P=0.0001), small mitral valve size (P=0.002) and new onset of atrial fibrillation (P=0.007) were the significant independent predictors of operative morality.

Mitral valve replacement can be performed in third world countries with limited resources with low mortality. However, optimal selection of mitral valve size can help to improve operative mortality.