Surgical Management and Postoperative Outcomes of Mechanical Valve Dysfunction: A Six-Year, Single-Center Study

Although many mechanical heart valves are replaced worldwide each year, mechanical valve dysfunction (MVD) remains one of the most common complications following this surgery. In an attempt to improve the postoperative and surgical management of MVD, the study plan was to investigate a group of patients who had undergone redo mechanical valve replacement to treat MVD at the authors' institution.

A total of 52 consecutive patients diagnosed with MVD underwent redo mechanical valve replacement between January 2007 and December 2013. A retrospective analysis was made of the clinical data from patients with MVD, and to compare these data with that from patients who had undergone redo heart valve surgery for other reasons.

Seven patients died in the early stage, with an overall mortality of 13.46%. All other patients were clinically cured and discharged. In total, nine patients died during this six-year review.

The surgical management of MVD has a high mortality and involves complex surgical procedures, but remains an effective means of treating MVD. Adequate surgery time, preoperative improvements in cardiac function, effective myocardial preservation during surgery and reasonable perioperative management may all help to improve the postoperative and mid-term outcomes of the surgical management of MVD.