Stress test in the evaluation of patients with aortic regurgitation subjected to valve replacement [pre - and post - operative study]

ABSTRACT

Fifty patients with rheumatic aortic regurge aged 18-40 years who were operated upon by aortic valve replacement in the National Heart Institute were included in the study. They were classified according to their effort tolerance into 2 groups. Group A, functional class I- NYHA and group B, functional class II NYHA. Group A included 30 patients and group B 20 patients. All patients were clinically assessed, had an ECG, Chest X-ray, ECHO and treadmill exercise test pre and postoperatively. Most patients improved postoperatively except 3 patients who died in group B; 1 from pump failure and the other 2 from infective endocarditis within 5 months of surgery. Maximum achieved heart rate during stress test, chronotropic reserve, max systolic blood pressure and total effort tolerance were studied and compared in both groups pre and postoperatively