To avoid postoperative morbidity and mortality often associated with left ventricular dysfunction after mitral valve replacement (MVR) for chronic mitral insufficiency, reconstruction or preservation of the native mitral valve apparatus may be attempted during mitral prosthetic implantation (MPI). The effects of mitral surgery on heart function, studied with echocardiography and radionuclide angiography, were compared in seven patients with MPI (study group) and five with MVR (control group) who underwent complete preoperative, early postoperative and 3-6 months follow-up examinations. Preoperatively there was significant intergroup difference only in right ventricular ejection fraction measured at radionuclide angiography, which was lower in the MPI group (p < 0.05). At follow-up the MPI group had improved as regards this fraction (p < 0.005) and stroke volume index (p < 0.05). The number of patients with improved NYHA class at follow-up was significantly greater in the MPI group. Our preliminary experience with preservation of the native mitral valve apparatus thus suggests that the method offers haemodynamic advantages for postoperative right ventricular function.
