[Results and prognosis following heart valve replacement]

786 patients who underwent cardiac valve replacement between 1965 and 1982 were followed up. Early mortality rate was 7,3% for the total observation period and decreased to 3,2% for the last four years. Patients with aortic valve replacement had better results in regard to their functional improvement as well as in their survival rate compared to those with mitral- or multiple valve replacement. Early mortality was also influenced by age at time of surgery. Overall complication rate was 6,4% per patient year with thromboembolic and bleeding complications being the most frequent. Patients with aortic valve replacement had the lowest (5,5%), those with multiple valve replacement the highest (11,4%) complication rate. It was also significantly influenced by cardiac size independent from location of valve replacement. Patients who had a heart of normal size postoperatively had significantly less complications.