[Surgical treatment of incomplete endocardial cushion defect in elderly patients]

We experienced 5 surgical cases of incomplete endocardial cushion defect who were 50 years old or older. Preoperatively, 3 cases were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II and 2 in class III. Catheterization study showed that systolic pulmonary arterial pressure was 24 to 48 (average; 38) mmHg and pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratio was 3.4 to 8.1 (average; 5.2). Left ventriculography showed mitral valve regurgitation (grade I-1 cases, grade II-3, grade III-1) with cleft and goose neck sign in all cases. Single atrium and patent foramen ovalis were associated in each one case. At operation, suture of mitral cleft and patch closure of ostium primum defect from mitral valve side were performed. Postoperatively, NYHA class, cardiomegaly, pulmonary arterial pressure and mitral regurgitation improved remarkably in all patients. During the follow-up period from 18 to 126 months (average; 57), right bundle branch block and supraventricular arrhythmia in electrocardiogram disappeared in 3 of 4 and 4 of 5 cases, respectively. Surgical treatment and postoperative course of incomplete ECD were reviewed in over-50-year-old patients, in reference to 17 surgical cases in Japan.