Left atrial plication for left atrium associated with mitral valve disease / 中华外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effects of left atrial plication (LAP) in patients with giant left atrium (GLA) associated with mitral valve disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-three patients with left atrial diameter (LAD) over 8.0 cm were enrolled. All cases underwent valve replacement and LAP between November 1993 and November 2004 were studied retrospectively. According to New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, 15 belonged to class III, 8 to class IV. Mitral valve replacements were performed in 18 patients (mechanical valve in 17 and biological valve in 1), double value replacement in 5, tricuspid valve plasty (TVP) in 15, atrial fibrillation radiofrequency ablation in 2.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Low output syndrome happened in 3, respiratory failure in 2. The early death was in 3 cases (operative mortality 13%). The causes of death were heart failure in 2 cases and stroke in 1. LAD was decreased significantly in patients after operation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>LAP has considerably beneficial effects on improvement of postoperative respiratory and cardiac function, reducing operative mortality. Atrial fibrillation radiofrequency ablation is effective in patients with GLA associated with valve disease. It may be recommended for patients with GLA during mitral valve surgery, especially for patients with LAD > 8.0 cm.</p>