This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Samuels, D. A. Articles by Austen, W. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Samuels, D. A. Articles by Austen, W. G.

Circulation, Vol 60, 647-654, Copyright © 1979 by American Heart Association

ARTICLES

Valve replacement for aortic regurgitation: long-term follow-up with factors influencing the results

DA Samuels, GD Curfman, AL Friedlich, MJ Buckley and WG Austen

One hundred consecutive cases of valve replacement for aortic regurgitation performed between 1967--1971 were analyzed to identify and quantitate factors related to a favorable result. Of 83 perioperative survivors, 78% (n = 65) became asymptomatic and 58% (n = 48) were alive 5--9 years postoperatively. The cause of aortic regurgitation affected both the speed of progression of symptoms and the postoperative result. Death due to myocardial failure may be prevented by optimal timing of operation. Accordingly, we identified variables that discriminated between patients who had an excellent postoperative result and those who died of myocardial failure. The most important discriminators were the severity (p = 0.03) and duration (p = 0.04) of dyspnea, the extent of therapy for heart failure (p = 0.001), physical findings of left ventricular failure (p = 0.002), the cardiothoracic ratio (p = 0.007), the resting pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (p = 0.01), and a cardiac index less than 2.2 1/min/m2 (p = 0.03). The data suggest that evidence of left ventricular failure, even of mild degree, is an indication for operation in patients with severe aortic regurgitation.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. Klodas, M. Enriquez-Sarano, A. J. Tajik, C. J. Mullany, K. R. Bailey, and J. B. Seward Surgery for Aortic Regurgitation in Women: Contrasting Indications and Outcomes Compared With Men Circulation, November 15, 1996; 94(10): 2472 - 2478. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S. H. RAHIMTOOLA The Need for Cardiac Catheterization and Angiography in Valvular Heart Disease is NotDisproven Ann Intern Med, September 1, 1982; 97(3): 433 - 439. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. A. Peter and R. H. Jones Radionuclide Measurements of Left Ventricular Function: Their Use in Patients With Aortic Insufficiency Arch Surg, November 1, 1980; 115(11): 1348 - 1352. [Abstract] [PDF]