Stability of mitral reconstructive surgery at 10-12 years for predominantly rheumatic valvular disease

All consecutive patients who underwent Duran flexible ring annuloplasty in 1975 and 1976 were reviewed until June 1987. Eighty-seven annuloplasties were performed in 85 patients. Aortic, tricuspid, or both surgeries were simultaneously performed in 44.8%. The hospital mortality was 2.3% (two of 85). Ten patients were lost to follow-up within 2 years after surgery, and there were three late deaths. Thromboembolic events were detected in 18 patients (seven peripheral and 11 central with one death); nine patients had partial recovery, and eight had full recovery. At the time of the thromboembolic event, eight patients were receiving anticoagulants; four, antiaggregants; one, both anticoagulants and antiaggregants; and five, none. Thirteen patients (13 of 73, 17.8%) required reoperation between 1 month and 11 years postoperatively. The valve was replaced in 11 patients, and two underwent a new flexible ring annuloplasty. The cause for reoperation was regurgitation in eight patients (10.9%), for whom the mean interval between operations was 20.6 months (range, 1 month-11 years). Stenosis was the cause for reoperation in five patients (6.8%), for whom the mean interval between operations was 87.8 months (range, 4-11 years). We conclude that reconstructive surgery after 10-12 years of follow-up for this group of predominantly rheumatic patients has an incidence of failure of approximately 18% attributable to incorrect surgery (11%) and restenosis (7%).