Mitral valve repair with aortic valve replacement in rheumatic heart disease

From 1992 to 2001, 609 patients with rheumatic heart disease underwent aortic valve replacement with either mitral valve repair (n = 201) or mitral valve replacement (n = 408). Follow-up extended to 10 years. Thirty-day mortality was 1.4% for mitral valve repair and 0.7% for mitral valve replacement (p = 0.4). Survival at 9 years was 96.5 +/- 1.4% after mitral valve repair and 89.7 +/- 7.8% after mitral valve replacement (p = 0.73). Freedom from major bleeding at 9 years was 94.8 +/- 2.4% after mitral valve repair and 81 +/- 7.2% after mitral valve replacement (p = 0.03). Freedom from other valve-related complications and from mitral valve re-operation was similar for the two groups. This study showed that in patients with rheumatic heart disease the results of mitral valve repair with aortic valve replacement were comparable to those of double valve replacement. Major bleeding was less frequent after mitral valve repair with aortic valve replacement. Therefore, whenever feasible, mitral valve repair should be attempted in patients with rheumatic heart disease who need concomitant aortic valve replacement.

[The causes of death of patients with rheumatic diseases in Moscow]

The study was held in order to analyze the main causes of death in cases of rheumatic diseases (RD) in Moscow. The authors studied the pathology records of autopsies performed in 1999-2002 in two pathology departments of Moscow clinics. Cases with RD were selected. The study found 165 cases of RD, which constituted 2% of all autopsies performed in these departments. There were 99 cases (60%) of rheumatic heart disease (RHD), 4 cases (2.4%) of rheumatic fever (RF) relapse, 28 cases (17%) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 8 cases (4.8%) of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 3 cases (1.8%) of scleroderma systematica (SS), 2 cases (1.2%) of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 2 cases (1.2%) of systemic vasculitis (SPV), 11 cases (7.3%) of osteoarthrosis, 3 cases (1.8%) of gout, 1 case (0.6%) of polymyositis. The death of patients with RHD had been caused by hemodynamic decompensation (HD) in 54% of the cases, acute cardiovascular collapse (ACC) in 14% of the cases, 6% of the patients had died from thromboembolism (TE) and 26%--from other conditions (intoxication, uremia, brain and lung edema etc). The death of patients with RF was caused by TE in 2 cases, by HD in 1 case and by ACC in 1 case. Secondary amyloidosis resulting in chronic renal failure and uremia occurred in 5 out of 28 cases of RA, HD--in 3, ACC--in 7, TE--in 1, infectious complications--in 5, other complications--in 7 cases. Patients with SLE died from various conditions: uremia in 2 cases, acute adrenal failure in 1 case, infectious complications in 2, ACC--in 2, brain edema--in 1 case. The complications of SS were uremia and intoxication. ACC was the cause of death in cases of gout and SS. The majority of RD cases were patients with RHD. The main cause of death in RD was cardiovascular disorders.

Evidence for a Heritable Component in Death Resulting From Aortic and Mitral Valve Diseases

Background— Cardiac valvular diseases contribute to >42 000 deaths yearly in the United States, but the role of genetics in these deaths is unknown. This study evaluated the familiality of death resulting from aortic, mitral, and all valvular diseases using a population-based genealogy linked to death records.

Methods and Results— The Utah Population Database contains >2 million individual records with genealogy data and 250 000 linked death certificates. Nonrheumatic aortic (n=932), mitral (n=1165), and all valvular (n=2504) disease deaths and rheumatic heart disease deaths (n=4713) were studied. Familial relative risks (FRRs) were assessed for first- and second-degree relatives. Familiality was also evaluated with the genealogical index of familiality, which considers all relationships in the Utah Population Database. FRRs were increased only for mitral valve death in both first-degree (FRR, 2.55; P <0.0001) and second-degree (FRR, 1.67; P <0.0001) relatives. Genealogical index of familiality analysis showed significant excess relatedness for all groups ( P <0.001). Genealogical index of familiality results ( P <0.001) for early age at death cases showed higher mean relatedness, a common characteristic of heritable disorders. Excess familiality extended to distant relatives for mitral (second-degree relatives) and aortic (beyond second-degree relatives) valve death.

Conclusions— Deaths resulting from nonrheumatic mitral and aortic diseases clustered among both close and distant relatives, especially among early age at death cases, suggesting a significant genetic component in death resulting from valvular diseases. Future studies should focus on gene discovery.

Triple valve surgery: a 25-year experience

OBJECTIVE

Surgical treatment of rheumatic valvular disease still constitutes a significant number of cardiac operations in developing countries. Despite improvements in myocardial protection and cardiopulmonary bypass techniques, triple valve operations (aortic, mitral and tricuspid valves) are still challenging because of longer duration of cardiopulmonary bypass and higher degree of myocardial decompensation. This study was instituted in order to assess results of triple valve surgery.

METHODS

Between 1977 and 2002, 34 patients underwent triple valve surgery in our clinic by the same surgeon (EB). Eleven patients underwent triple valve replacement (32.4%) and 23 underwent tricuspid valve annuloplasty with aortic and mitral valve replacements (67.6%).

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between the two groups of patients who underwent triple valve replacement and aortic and mitral valve replacement with tricuspid valve annuloplasty. There were 4 hospital deaths (11.8%) occurring within 30 days. The duration of follow-up for 30 survivors ranged from 6 to 202 months (mean 97 months). The actuarial survival rates were 85%, 72%, and 48% at 5, 10, and 15 years respectively. Actuarial freedom from reoperation rates at 5, 10, and 15 years was 86.3%, 71.9%, and 51.2%, respectively. Freedom from cerebral thromboembolism and anticoagulation-related hemorrhage rates, expressed in actuarial terms was 75.9% and 62.9% at 5 and 10 years. Major cerebral complications occurred in 10 of the 30 patients.

CONCLUSION

We prefer replacing, if repairing is not possible, the tricuspid valve, with a bileaflet mechanical prosthesis in a patient with valve replacement of the left heart who will be anticoagulated in order to avoid unfavorable properties of bioprosthesis like degeneration and of old generation mechanical prosthesis like thrombosis and poor hemodynamic function. In recent years, results of triple valve surgery either with tricuspid valve conservation or valve replacement in suitable cases have become encouraging with improvements in surgical techniques and myocardial preservation methods.

Anterior leaflet resection of the mitral valve

Triangular resection is a reconstructive option for treatment of anterior leaflet mitral disease with segmental prolapse. In our experience, it is a safe and reproducible technique, associated with low rates of recurrent MR or need for reoperation, as well as decreased likelihood for systolic anterior motion after mitral repair. We review our experience with this technique over a 25-year experience with mitral valve reconstruction.

Acute rheumatic fever: a chink in the chain that links the heart to the throat?

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) remains a major problem in tropical regions, resource-poor countries, and minority indigenous communities. It has long been thought that group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis alone was responsible for acute rheumatic fever; this belief has been supported by laboratory and epidemiological evidence gathered over more than 60 years, mainly in temperate climates where GAS skin infection is uncommon. GAS strains have been characterised as either rheumatogenic or nephritogenic based on phenotypic and genotypic properties. Primary prevention strategies and vaccine development have long been based on these concepts. The epidemiology of ARF in Aboriginal communities of central and northern Australia challenges this view with reported rates of ARF and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) that are among the highest in the world. GAS throat colonisation is uncommon, however, and symptomatic GAS pharyngitis is rare; pyoderma is the major manifestation of GAS infection. Typical rheumatogenic strains do not occur. Moreover, group C and G streptococci have been shown to exchange key virulence determinants with GAS and are more commonly isolated from the throats of Aboriginal children. We suggest that GAS pyoderma and/or non-GAS infections are driving forces behind ARF in these communities and other high-incidence settings. The question needs to be resolved as a matter of urgency because current approaches to controlling ARF/RHD in Aboriginal communities have clearly been ineffective. New understanding of the pathogenesis of ARF would have an immediate effect on primary prevention strategies and vaccine development.

Rheumatic heart disease in Ethiopia: could it be more malignant?

The objectives of the study were to evaluate severity of rhenumatic heart disease (RHD) using age at time of death as its indicator and to look for factors associated with the severity. Retrospective study of consecutive cardiovascular deaths in the medical wards of Tikur Anbassa Teaching Hospital (TAH) from January 1995 to December 2001 was carried out. Information on age at the time of death, sex, type of valve lesions, status of secondary prophylaxis, presence or absence of arrhythmia, infective endocarditis, embolic phenomena, co-morbid illness, immediate cause(s) of death and duration of follow up at health institutions were obtained There were a total of 457 cardiovascular deaths including cerebrovascular accidents (CVA). 121(26.5%) were due to RHD. Charts of 115 RHD patients were available for detailed analysis. The overall mean age at the time of death was 25.89+/-11.05 years. The median age for males was lower than that of females (19 years, I.Q. 16-32 versus 25 years, IQ 15 - 30 years), but not statistically significantly different (p = 0. 10). There were more female deaths accounting for 57.4 %. About 70% of RHD patients died from congestive heart failure. Eleven per cent (13 patients) each died from systemic embolism and co-morbid conditions. Combined mitral and aortic valve disease within a patient accounted for majority (42.6%) of the lesions followed by combined mitral regurgitation and stenosis (24.4%). Isolated mitral stenosis, or regurgitation was a relatively less common cause of death. Aortic valve lesion without mitral valve involvement was a rare cause (3.5%) of death. In conclusion RHD in our patients ran more aggressive course as indicated by death occurring at much younger age than in even the preprophylaxis era in western world. The more frequent combined valve lesions and infrequent secondary prophylaxis may significantly contribute to the rapid course, but cannot fully explain the very low mean age. Factors responsible for rapid course in an Ethiopian need to be addressed urgently.

[Analysis of lethal outcomes of rheumatic diseases in Moscow]

AIM

To study the pattern of lethal outcomes due to rheumatic diseases (RD) in Moscow.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Annual reports of 38 pathological departments of Moscow have been analysed for 1999 and 2000.

RESULTS

RD accounted for 1.8% diagnosis at autopsies (n = 784). RD as the main diagnosis was in 668 cases (1.53%). Diseases of the bone-muscle system caused death 3.5 times less often than rheumatism. As concommitent diseases RD were encountered in 118 cases (0.27%), diseases of the bone-muscle system were registered 2 times less frequently than rheumatism. Chronic rheumatic diseases of the heart were diagnosed in 590 cases (98.5%), rheumatic fever was detected in 9 (1.5%) patients. The main diagnosis of RA, seronegative arthritides, systemic vasculitides, SLE, osteoarthrosis was made in 49, 10 9.3, 12.7, 1.3%, respectively. Such nosological entities as osteoporosis, gout and other microcrystalline arthritides were referred to the group "other rheumatic diseases" and made up 12.7%. As concomitant pathology RA, OA, seronegative spondyloarthritides, SLE, other RD occurred in 54, 8.1, 27, 2.7, 2.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The share of RD in autopsy diagnosis accounts for 1.8% of the total number of necropsies. These figures seem to underestimate the real situation and may be explained by poor registration of RD at autopsy and a fall in the total number of autopsies for the last 10 years. For Moscow and Russia as a whole there is a prevalence of rheumatism mortality (76%), primarily deaths of chronic rheumatic cardiac diseases, over mortality due to diseases of the bone-muscular system (24%).

Long-term results of reoperative mitral valve surgery in patients with rheumatic disease

BACKGROUND

Reoperative (redo) mitral valve surgery is still a continuing challenge to surgeons. The aim of this study was to detect the factors that affect late mortality or morbidity after redo mitral valve surgery in patients with rheumatic disease.

METHODS

Between May 1983 and February 2003, 92 patients who underwent redo mitral valve surgery for rheumatic disease were enrolled. Risk factors influencing survival or cardiac events were investigated with univariate analysis and a Cox model.

RESULTS

Operative mortality rate was 4.2%. Kaplan-Meier actuarial analysis demonstrated an 84.7% 5-year, a 69.5% 10-year, and a 65.9% 15-year survival. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that age at surgery and preoperative New York Heart Association (NYHA) class were found to be independent predictors of late deaths, and that higher age, advanced NYHA class, and previous mitral valve replacement were independent predictors of cardiac events.

CONCLUSIONS

Redo mitral valve surgery can be achieved with low early mortality. However, long-term results of redo mitral surgery are not necessarily satisfactory in patients with preoperative advanced NYHA class or with a previous mechanical heart valve, and especially in 60 years or older age.

Midterm experience with the Sorin Bicarbon heart valve prosthesis for rheumatic disease

BACKGROUND

In this study, we present a single center experience with Bicarbon bileaflet valve in 307 patients with rheumatic heart disease.

METHODS

Between August 1998 and September 2000, 307 patients underwent heart valve replacement using the Bicarbon bileaflet valve (Sorin Biomedica, Saluggia, Italy) with an average age of 47.19+/-13.21 years (range 14 to 80 years), consisting of 147 males and 160 females at Alkan Hospital, Cardiovascular Surgery Department. Aortic valve replacement (AVR) was performed in 77 patients, mitral valve replacement (MVR) in 156 patients and double valve replacement (DVR) in 74 patients.

RESULTS

The early mortality rate was 3.3% (10/307) and there was no late mortality. The actuarial survival rate, including hospital mortality, was 96.74+/-1.01% for the whole group, 96.5+/-1.5% for the MVR group, 97.4+/-1.8% for the AVR group and 97.3+/-1.9% for the DVR group at 35 months. One patient had obstructive valve thrombosis with MVR. The 35 months actuarial freedom from valve thrombosis was 99.58+/-0.4% for the whole group. Four patients were reoperated and the 35 months actuarial freedom from reoperation was 98.53+/-0.7% for the whole group, 98.65+/-0.9% for the MVR group, 96.73+/-02% for the DVR group and 100% for the AVR group. No instances of perivalvular leak, hemolysis, endocarditis or embolism were observed during the entire follow-up period. Mean follow-up duration was 16.5+/-7.9 months (ranged 4 to 35 months).

CONCLUSION

We have presented our mid-term results with the Sorin Bicarbon bileaflet valve in patients with rheumatic heart disease, which provided good clinical performance combined with meticulous patient care and advanced surgical techniques.

Evidence for rheumatic valve disease in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation long after mitral valve surgery: the role of 3D echo reconstruction

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY

Although severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a well-recognized, long-term complication of rheumatic mitral valve replacement that impairs the functional results of surgery, its exact basis remains unclear and its management is unsatisfactory. The study aim was to obtain a detailed assessment of tricuspid valve morphology and function using 2D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) with 3D reconstruction, and to determine long-term clinical outcome in patients after surgery for rheumatic mitral valve disease.

METHODS

A total of 42 patients (mean age 50 +/- 10 years) was followed up; 39 patients had mitral replacement and three had valvotomy. Thirty patients had developed impaired exercise tolerance, fluid retention and echocardiographic evidence of severe TR at 8.2 +/- 2.6 years after surgery; the remainder had mild regurgitation.

RESULTS

Follow up showed greater mortality in the severe TR group, with approximately 50% survival at 60 months after diagnosis compared with mild TR. None of the patients with severe TR had a dysfunctional mitral prosthesis. In these patients, transthoracic echo-Doppler showed enlarged right atrium and right ventricle, a mean transtricuspid retrograde pressure drop of 15 +/- 4 mmHg and apparently normal leaflet anatomy. Twenty patients (15 with severe TR) underwent a TEE and 3D reconstruction study for further evaluation. Abnormal leaflet anatomy was demonstrated in all patients with severe TR, with restricted leaflet motion in 10, leaflet shortening and thickening in the remainder, and dilatation of tricuspid valve annular insertion suggestive of rheumatic involvement. Although diastolic transtricuspid velocities were increased (peak flow 0.8 +/- 0.1 m/s) in these patients due to increased stroke volume, significant tricuspid stenosis was present in only two cases (mean gradient 4 and 3 mmHg respectively). Histopathology confirmed the presence of leaflet vascularization and extensive fibrosis in two patients who underwent tricuspid valve replacement.

CONCLUSION

Rheumatic leaflet involvement contributes to severe TR occurring long after mitral valve replacement, though overt stenosis is uncommon. Knowledge of the structural basis of this condition may thus improve its long-term management, possibly with early tricuspid valve repair.

Emergency valve replacement in rheumatic heart disease

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY

Emergency valve replacement is defined as surgery undertaken to correct valvular heart disease which otherwise would have proved fatal within 24 h.

METHODS

Among 1,742 patients who underwent valve replacement during the past 15 years at the authors' institution, 61 who had emergency surgery formed two groups. Group 1 (n = 24) had a previous good circulatory status but suffered a sudden change in valvular function, in the initial period after closed mitral valvotomy (CMV), and in later years after balloon aortic valvotomy (BAV) or balloon mitral valvotomy (BMV) for aortic or mitral valvular stenosis. Group 2 (n = 37) had chronic decompensated rheumatic valvular disease and acute low cardiac output.

RESULTS

Four deaths occurred in group 1 (17%) during the early stage of the study, but no deaths have occurred during the past five years. Mean follow up was 13.5 months (range: 5-30 months). Among 20 survivors, 14 were in NYHA class I, and six in class II. Ten deaths occurred in group 2 (27%), including two during the past eight years among patients who had surgery. Mean follow up was 37.7 months (range: 8-96 months). Among 27 survivors, 11 were in NYHA class I, 12 in class II, two in class III and two in class IV.

CONCLUSION

In this potential terminally ill group of patients, surgery offers the only option for survival.

Long-term evaluation of Carpentier-Edwards porcine bioprosthesis for rheumatic heart disease

OBJECTIVES

The clinical results of Carpentier-Edwards standard bioprosthesis have been extensively studied for valvular heart surgery in America and Europe. However, the data of long-term performance of Carpentier-Edwards standard porcine valve in areas with a high prevalence of rheumatic heart disease are still lacking. In this study, we assessed the clinical performance of Carpentier-Edwards standard porcine bioprostheses in a patient group with high prevalence of rheumatic heart disease.

METHODS

A total of 872 patients underwent valvular heart surgery with Carpentier-Edwards standard porcine bioprostheses replacement between 1975 and 1999 and the results were analyzed. Rheumatic etiology counts for 95% of the patients. Mean age of operation was 40 +/- 14 years (mitral valve), 43 +/- 19 years (aortic valve), and 45 +/- 13 years (double valve). Follow-up was 95.6% complete and continued up to 24 years (total 7017 patient-years) with mean of 8.9 +/- 5.1 years.

RESULTS

The operative mortality rate was 5.85%. Actuarial patient survival rates after discharge at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years were 92.5%, 83.8%, 72.3%, and 35.8%, respectively. A total of 442 cases received reoperation due to failure of bioprostheses. The mean duration to valve failure is 12.2 +/- 0.4 years. Actuarial estimate of freedom from structural valvular failure at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years were 96.3%, 63.7%, 24.4%, and 7.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The long-term result of Carpentier-Edwards standard bioprostheses in the present patient group is satisfactory. However, freedom from valve failure is lower than that of Western series. Younger age at operation and higher prevalence of rheumatic etiology in this area are possible causes.

Cardiovascular mortality of cockpit crew in Germany: cohort study

Pilots and other cockpit crew in civil aviation are regularly screened for medical problems that could influence their work performance. Fitness particularly in terms of cardiovascular health is of major importance for this group. While previous studies had shown a low cardiovascular mortality risk of pilots, there is conflicting evidence concerning the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in this group. We investigated the cardiovascular mortality of German cockpit crew in a retrospective cohort study. A cohort that included all cockpit crew employed for two German airlines (n=6061) from 1960-1997 was compiled. We calculated the Standardised Mortality Ratio (SMR) and 95% confidence intervals as the ratio of observed and expected numbers of cardiovascular deaths with the German general population as comparison. The influence of age, age at hire and employment duration were analysed in stratified and regression analyses. Overall mortality from cardiovascular causes among cockpit crew was reduced. For mortality from all cardiovascular causes we found an SMR of 0.5(95% CI 0.3-0.6), for acute myocardial infarction the SMR was 0.4 (95% CI 0.3-0.7). Cockpit crew taking up employment at age 30 or later had a more than twofold cardiovascular mortality risk compared with those beginning employment earlier, but there was no risk gradient with duration of employment. Overall, cockpit crew has a relatively low cardiovascular mortality to which a low smoking prevalence and an early detection of cardiovascular health problems are likely to contribute. Cockpit crew employed before age 30 has the lowest cardiovascular mortality risk.

Comparison of clinical and echocardiographic outcomes after valve repair: degenerative versus rheumatic mitral regurgitation

We compared clinical (30+/-24 months) and echocardiographic follow-up (22 +/- 20 months) data of 184 consecutive patients with myxomatous degenerative mitral regurgitation (Group A) and 85 consecutive patients with rheumatic mitral regurgitation (Group B) after repair. Selection criteria for rheumatic etiology was predominant mitral regurgitation with valve area >or= 2.0 cm(2) and with no significant calcification in valvular apparatus. Repair was successful in 93% of group A and in 92% of group B (p>0.05). There was no difference of operative mortality (1% vs 0%) and of the incidence of the second-pump valve replacement (4% vs 5%). The 4-yr survival, 4-yr event-free survival, and 4-yr mitral regurgitation-free survival rates in group A were 96 +/- 2%, 89 +/- 4%, and 76 +/- 5%, respectively, which were not different from those in group B (97 +/-2 %, 93 +/- 4%, and 68 +/-7 %, p >0.05). Independent determinants of development of at least moderate regurgitation in group A were no use of ring annuloplasty (hazards ratio 6.6, 95% CI 2.0 to 21.5) and new chordae formation (hazards ratio 3.5, 95% CI 1.4 to 8.7). In group B, no use of ring annuloplasty (hazards ratio 15.3, 95% CI 3.5 to 66.7) also was independent predictor. Valve repair is highly feasible in selected patients with rheumatic mitral regurgitation, and clinical course is not significantly different from that of patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation.

Maternal and perinatal outcome in rheumatic heart disease

OBJECTIVES

To study the maternal and perinatal outcome of pregnancies complicated by rheumatic heart disease.

METHODS

A retrospective study was carried out in the cardio-obstetric clinic of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh (India) over a period of 13 years (1987-1999) involving 486 pregnant patients with rheumatic heart disease. Maternal and perinatal outcome was reviewed.

RESULTS

Three hundred and four patients (63.3%) had single valve involvement and mitral stenosis was the most predominant lesion (89.2%). One hundred and seventy one (38.6%) patients had undergone surgical correction prior to the onset of pregnancy. One hundred and thirteen patients (22.6%) were identified as NYHA class III-IV. Mitral valvotomy was performed during pregnancy in 48 patients. The incidence of preterm birth and small for gestational age newborns was 12% and 18.2%, respectively. There were 10 maternal deaths, of which eight patients were NYHA III and IV.

CONCLUSIONS

Rheumatic heart disease in pregnancy is associated with significant maternal and perinatal morbidity in NYHA class III-IV patients.

Early surgical intervention for infective endocarditis

Infective endocarditis remains a serious and complex disease with significant morbidity and mortality. Sixty cases of infective endocarditis were retrospectively reviewed, consisting of 41 males and 19 females aged 7 to 50 years (mean, 30 years). Congenital heart disease was diagnosed in 19 of the patients and rheumatic heart disease in 41. Congestive heart failure occurred in 36 and systemic embolism in 8 cases. Blood cultures were positive in only 21.7% of the cases, while vegetations were detected by 2-dimensional echocardiography in 70%. Elective surgery was performed in 57 patients and emergent operation for systemic arterial embolization and/or intractable congestive heart failure in 3 patients. Two patients required reoperation for postoperative bleeding. All but 2 patients had been followed up for 6 to 160 months with no evidence of reinfection. Three patients with mechanical valve implantation later died of intracranial bleeding due to over-anticoagulation. The remaining 55 resumed normal activity. The encouraging outcomes were the result of an aggressive diagnostic approach and early surgical intervention.

Fixed-dose versus adjusted-dose warfarin in patients with prosthetic heart valves in a peri-urban impoverished population

BACKGROUND AND AIMS OF THE STUDY

Patients with mechanical heart valves are critically dependent upon adequate anticoagulation. The present patients are young, geographically dispersed and socioeconomically deprived. Hospital attendance is erratic, and compliance with conventional anticoagulation difficult. The need exists for an alternative method of anticoagulation that requires neither regular visits nor adjustment of the warfarin dose.

METHODS

A five-year prospective randomized double-blind study was undertaken to compare the efficacy and safety of a predetermined, individualized fixed-dose versus adjusted-dose warfarin. Postopoeratively, 296 patients, after an initial dose-finding phase (International Normalized Ratio (INR) 2.0 - 3.5), were randomized to either fixed-dose or adjusted-dose warfarin.

RESULTS

For the intention-to-treat analysis, the groups were well-matched with regard to baseline characteristics. Among patients on fixed-dose warfarin, 63% of INRs were in the range 2.0 - 4.5 compared with 64% in patients on adjusted-dose warfarin. The mean follow up period was 2.4 years in both groups; total follow up was 725 patient-years. There were seven deaths in the fixed-dose warfarin group, and five in the adjusted-dose group (p = 0.52). Thirteen major thrombotic events, occurred in the fixed-dose warfarin group, and four in the adjusted-dose group (p = 0.02). Twelve major hemorrhagic events occurred in each group.

CONCLUSION

In this predominantly young, impoverished population, despite similar overall INR control, fixed-dose warfarin was associated with an increase in thromboembolic events, but no significant increase in mortality or hemorrhagic events. Fixed-dose warfarin may be an acceptable option where conventional anticoagulation is impracticable. In particular, the study highlighted the difficulties of adequate anticoagulation in a population where compliance is erratic and often non-existent.

Maternal deaths due to pre-existing cardiac disease

Heart disease in pregnancy is an uncommon problem in the developed world, but reaches a high prevalence in poor countries. In South Africa 0.65% of all pregnant women have heart disease, and there is an unacceptably high morbidity and mortality rate (9.5% ). Rheumatic heart disease accounts for most of this mortality, mitral stenosis being the commonest lesion. In April 2000 the National Committee on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths (NCCEMD) reported that close to half of non-obstetric maternal deaths in South Africa were due to cardiac disease. Several preventable factors were identified that precipitated decompensation and could have accounted for this high mortality. Among them, lack of adequate antenatal evaluation, uncontrolled fluid infusion, failure to identify the patient at risk, and failure to recognise the risk of autotransfusion in the postpartum phase, were contributing factors. This report of the problems seeks to address ways in which these difficulties may be rectified.

A community-based rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease cohort: twelve-year experience

BACKGROUND

A pilot rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease control porject was started in 1988 in blocks of district Ambala (Haryana) to test the feasibility of early detection, treatment and secondary prophylaxis for rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease cases. School teachers, students and health workers were trained to identify and refer suspected cases of rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease to the community health center where physicians examined the suspected cases and monthly secondary prophylaxis was provided to the confirmed cases.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A survey of registered cases was done in 1999 to determine the compliance rate of secondary prophylaxis and to describe clinical and epidemiologic features of the registered cohort of rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease patients. A total of 257 patients had been registered till the end of 1999 with 1263 person-years of follow-up. Out of these registered patients, 132 were receiving secondary prophylaxis, 52 had died, 17 had migrated, 8 were lost to follow-up, 18 had stopped prophylaxis and 30 completed the prophylaxis course. The mean age at registration was 18 years. Half of the cases were in the 6-15 years age group at registration. Over half of the patients were registered with a history of rheumatic fever. Fever was the most common symptom (75.9%). Carditis was more common among cases with recurrent attacks of rheumatic fever than after a first attack. The mortality in rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart cases was 32.5/1000 person-years. The mean age at death was 24.4 years. Compliance with secondary prophylaxis was 92% during the past 12 years.

CONCLUSIONS

A rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease control program can be sustained within the primary health care system and the case registry can be utilized not only for monitoring the program but also to gain insight into the epidemiology of the disease.

Predictors of long-term event-free survival and of freedom from restenosis after percutaneous balloon mitral commissurotomy

BACKGROUND

Most long-term studies after balloon mitral commissurotomy (BMC) were from industrialized countries. Less is known about the long-term results of BMC from developing countries where patients are younger with fewer mitral valve deformities.

METHODS

Between December 1987 and December 1998, we performed BMC in 654 patients whose mean age was 33 +/- 13 years. Baseline and postprocedural variables were evaluated to identify predictors of event-free survival (survival without repeat BMC or mitral valve replacement) and of freedom from restenosis defined as a mitral valve area (MVA) >/=1.5 cm(2) after BMC and <1.5 cm(2) at follow-up.

RESULTS

The actuarial survival rates were 98%, 98%, and 97% at 5, 7, and 10 years, respectively. The 5-, 7-, and 10-year event-free survival rates were 85%, 81%, and 72%. Multivariate predictors of a higher 10-year event-free survival rate were lower echocardiographic score (79% for a score </=8, 61% for a score of 9 to 11, 62% for a score >/=12, P <.001) and cardiac sinus rhythm (P =.04) before BMC, lower mean left atrial pressure (P <.001), lower mitral valve gradient (P <.001), and less than or equal to grade 2 mitral regurgitation (P =.036) after BMC. Restenosis occurred in 16% of patients. The restenosis-free rates were 88%, 80%, and 66% at 5, 7, and 10 years, respectively. A higher freedom from restenosis at 10 years was associated with a lower score (77% for a score </=8, 45% for a score of 9-11 and 50% for a score >/=12, P =.03) and a larger MVA before BMC (P =.03), a larger MVA (P <.001), and a lower mitral valve gradient (P =.04) after BMC.

CONCLUSIONS

BMC produces excellent 10-year results in patients with pliable mitral stenosis and good results in patients with semipliable or calcified mitral stenosis. BMC is the procedure of choice in patients with pliable valves and it is a reasonable treatment option in young patients with unfavorable mitral valve anatomy.

Valve repair for rheumatic mitral disease

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF STUDY

Mitral valve repair is the standard reparative technique for degenerative mitral disease, but results of valve repair in rheumatic disease are also encouraging. The outcomes after mitral valve repair for rheumatic disease at young age was evaluated for suitability of repair.

METHODS

A total of 319 patients (246 females, 73 males; mean age 31.3+/-0.5 years) underwent mitral valve repair for rheumatic mitral disease at the authors' institution between 1991 and 1998. Mean follow up was 51.9+/-1.2 months (range: 9-98 months), and was 88.7% complete.

RESULTS

Preoperatively, 47.6% of patients were in NYHA classes III and IV. Mitral stenosis was present in 87.5%, insufficiency in 5.3%, and stenosis/insufficiency in 7.2%. Concomitant procedures were performed in 32% of patients who had associated cardiac lesions. The intraoperative mortality, reoperation and reoperation mortality rates were 0.9%, 6.7% and 0%, respectively. During follow up there were 10 late deaths (3.5%), six of which were cardiac disease-related (2.1%). Postoperatively, 98% of patients were in NYHA classes I and II.

CONCLUSION

Valve repair in mitral disease is a standard technique, with low mortality, complication and reoperation rates, and good cardiac function and late survival. This approach is equally applicable to rheumatic mitral valve repair; hence, rheumatic mitral valves should also be repaired.

Tricuspid regurgitation secondary to mitral valve disease: tricuspid annulus function as guide to tricuspid valve repair

METHODS

A prospective analysis was performed on 50 patients (pts) with rheumatic mitral disease and associate secondary tricuspid insufficiency who underwent mitral valve replacement from January 1995 to December 1998. Surgical indication to tricuspid annuloplasty was considered in patients with echocardiographic tricuspid annulus diameter > 21 mm/m2, regardless semiquantitative evaluation of tricuspid insufficiency. De Vega annuloplasty was performed in 33 out of 50 patients.

RESULTS

Hospital mortality was 2.0% (CL 0.3-3.6). The follow up of the discharged patients ranged from 3 to 48 months (mean 25 +/- 15.9). Three late deaths occurred (6.1% CL 2.8-9.2). Forty-two patients out of the 46 followed up (91.3% CL 84.9-93.8) were in I or II NYHA class. In eight patients (16.3% of discharged patients) the obtained result has been considered as 'negative late results': persisting moderate (three cases) or moderate-severe (five cases) TrI, together with congestive heart failure requiring a furosemide intake of > 25 mg/day. No patients had severe TrI at follow up. The statistics analysis demonstrated the 'preoperative fraction shortening of the tricuspid annulus' (P = 0.038) as factor predictive of late negative result. The incidence of late negative result was 57.1% among patients with fractional shortening lower than 25% and 0% among those patients with fractional shortening greater than 25% (P = 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The choice to treat the tricuspid insufficiency according to indexed tricuspid annulus dimension (> 21 mm/m2) has been effective in terms of clinical efficacy and of late functional result. Fractional shortening of the tricuspid annulus, expression of right ventricular cardiomyopathy in patients with poorest prognosis, affects the postoperative evolution of tricuspid insufficiency.

Surgery of rheumatic mitral stenosis: comparison of different techniques

OBJECTIVE

The breakthrough of percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) has dramatically changed the indications for the surgical treatment of rheumatic mitral stenosis over the last decade. No recent studies comparing long-term results of PTMC, open mitral commissurotomy (OMC) and mitral valve replacement (MVR) with bileaflet prostheses are available in medical literature.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Between January 1991 and December 1997, 313 patients with pure and isolated rheumatic stenosis were treated in our department. One hundred and eleven patients underwent PTMC, 82 OMC and 120 MVR. There was no statistical difference (p>0.05) between the mortality rates of the three groups of patients. No cases of hospital mortality were observed in the patients who underwent PTMC and OMC, whereas two patients (1.6%) died within 30 days after MVR. Seven year actuarial survival results are: 95.41+/-2(SE)% (PTMC), 98.05+/-1% (OMC) and 92.82+/-33% (MVR) (p=NS). Freedom from embolism was 98.78+/-1% in PTMC, 98.78+/-1% in OMC and 92.52+/-2% in MVR (p>0.05); freedom from reoperation was 88.43+/-8% in PTMC, 96.35%+/-2% in OMC and 97.72+/-1% in MVR (p>0.05). The mean NYHA class at the end of follow-up was lower in OMC (1.14+/-0.3) versus PTMC (1.39+/-0.6) and MVR (1.41+/-0.71) (p=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Even though conservative techniques are the first option to consider in treating mitral valve stenosis, valve replacement with bileaflet prostheses no longer represents a limiting factor to survival and quality of life.