Analysis of the Early Results of 693 Patients Undergoing Valvular Reoperation Between 1993 and 2011

The study aim was to identify factors affecting early mortality in valvular reoperations.

Between January 1993 and December 2011, a total of 693 patients who had undergone valvular reoperations due to problems with previously implanted mechanical and biological valves, new valve degeneration or valve failure after a reconstructive procedure was included in the study. Factors affecting early mortality were identified by the examination of preoperative and perioperative data, using multivariate analysis.

The average age of the patients was 44.9 years. For all patients, overall hospital mortality was 15.9%, while hospital mortality rates were 12.9% and 35.3% for elective operation and urgent/emergency treatment, respectively. Factors affecting early mortality in the multivariate analysis were longer total perfusion time (>120 min, p = 0.001), emergency or urgent treatment (p = 0.001), and the presence of preoperative renal failure (p = 0.001).

Mortality for elective patients in valvular reoperations was within an acceptable range. Total mortality was dependent on a high mortality level of emergency/urgency of the cases. The use of a well-defined protocol in valvular reoperations may decrease hospital mortality.