[Late results of mitral recommissurotomy]

Late results of 394 operations for mitral restenosis (or 90.6% of discharged cases) were reviewed, the average duration of follow-up being 5.6 +/- 0.6 years. Late results were good in 41.9%, satisfactory in 27.2% and poor in 19.5% of the patients. Long-term mortality was 11.4%. Moderate valvular regurgitation did not significantly affect the outcome of surgery. Long-term outcomes were shown to deteriorate progressively with the increment of valvular calcinosis. The comparative actuarial analysis in long-term outcomes of mitral commissurotomies and recommissurotomies showed no significant variations. It is emphasized that mitral recommissurotomy is a promising approach to surgical treatment of mitral restenosis.