[Chronic aortic regurgitation with left ventricular dysfonction]

We studied fifty one patients [40 men and 11 women] undergoing valve replacement from 1990 to 2002 for aortic regurgitation and had left ventricular dysfunction. 45% patients were in class III or IV of New York Heart Association [NYHA]. All patients were investigated by echocardiography [left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] <50%] - Peroperative mortality was 5.8% due to myocardial failure. 81.4% of survivors were followed during a mean period of 24 months [rangies from 3 to 67 months] after valve replacement