Reasons and Timing of Reoperation in Patients with Heart-Valve Disease
Study Objective: To determine the reasons and timing for reoperations in patients with infective endocarditis (IE) or mitraL regurgitation (MR) after vaLve surgery. Study Design: We studied the Long-term resuLts of surgery treatment in 172 patients with IE (up to 19 years post-surgery) and in 75 patients with MR (up to 5 years post-surgery) who underwent vaLve-repLacement or reconstructive surgery. Materials and Methods: We anaLyzed the reasons and timing for reoperations in 21 patients with IE and in 8 patients with MR. Results: In IE patients, the most frequent reason for reoperation, which was most often done within three years foLLowing the first surgery, was Late prosthetic-vaLve IE. Most frequentLy, Late prosthetic-vaLve IE occurs in young patients with active aortic vaLve IE. A Low risk for reoperation continues over a Long period of time. FaiLures of mitraL vaLve reconstructive operations are most frequentLy reported within the first year after surgery and expLained by the unreasonabLy high frequency of vaLve-saving surgeries in eLderLy patients with poorLy controLLed hypertension. Conclusion: For practicaL purposes, LifeLong foLLow-up of patients after reconstructive vaLve surgery and reguLar counseLing about possibLe Longterm postoperative compLications and reLevant preventive measures are of criticaL importance.