[Average-term effects of reparative surgery of the mitral valve]

The paper summarizes a personal experience at Harefield Hospital in surgical repair of the mitral valve. From Oct. 1976 to June 1978 among 43 consecutive mitral valve operations 38 reparative procedures were performed. The aetiology was rheumatic in 32 cases, degenerative (floppy valve) in 4; subacute bacterial endocarditis superimposed on a rheumatic valve in 1 and congenital in 1. The mitral valve was stenotic in 21 cases, incompetent in 5 and both stenotic and incompetent in 13. One patient died, whereas two had to be reoperated. At a postoperative symptomatic evaluation (mean follow up 25 months) 25 patients (71%) are asymptomatic; 9 (26%) are improved and 1 remains unchanged.