Multivalvular Replacement

Report of 30 Cases

¹ Assistant Professor of Surgery
² Clinical Associate in Surgery
³ Associate Professor of Medicine

Twenty-three double valve and seven triple valve replacements or repairs have been reported. All patients but two were in severe heart failure. The mortality rate in the double valve series was 30 per cent and in the triple valve series was 14 per cent with a follow-up period of one month to 23 months. There was no late death. Left ventricular volume estimates and pressure-volume loops were also obtained pre- and postoperatively whenever possible. Such work-ups, in addition to clarifying the significance of multivalvular lesions, have also

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defined more accurately ventricular function and total cardiac disability. Surgical and postoperative management was also presented. Follow-up studies utilizing left ventricular volume estimates have been alluded to briefly in five multivalvular patients. In the authors' experience, multivalvular replacement applied to patients with severe cardiac disability has provided excellent clinical relief with an acceptable mortality.