Surgery for Acquired Valvular Heart Disease

Abstract

THE value to the patient of valve repair or replacement is determined by the resulting improvement in length and quality of life over that imposed by the natural history of the disease. The length and quality of life are determined by the initial hospital mortality rate, the hemodynamic function of the repaired valve or substituting device, adverse effects of the repaired valve or device (thromboembolism, infection, hemolysis, need for special therapy such as anticoagulants, or mechanical interference with cardiac performance), and the regression, persistence, or progression after operation of the abnormalities of cardiac structure and function that resulted originally from . . .