Long Term Clinical Results of Triple Valve Replacement / 대한흉부외과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Clinical reports on replacement of all three (AV+MV+TV) valves are rare. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From January 1992 to December 2003, 38 patients received triple valve replacement (aortic, mitral, tricuspid) at Yonsei Cardiovascular Center. Mean age of patients was 49.5+/-10.7 (28~69) years, and 24 patients (63.1%) were female. Rheumatic valve disease was the most common cause of operation (n=37). Preoperative New York Heart Association functional class were II in 4, III in 24 and IV in 10. Fifteen patients (group 1) received triple valve replacement at their first operation. Twenty three patients (group 2) received one or more operations before tricuspid valve replacement (TVR). Seven patients received tricuspid valve annuloplasty at first operation and received TVR later. RESULT: Six patients died at hospital after operation (15.8%) and all these patients were in group 2. All patients in group I survived and were discharged. Three patients (9.4%) died during follow up periods. Most of the survivors had improved functional class (I in 22, II in 8, III in 1, IV in 1). During follow up period, there were 4 valve related complications. The 10-year survival rate was 68.8% and survival rate for free from valve related event at 10 years was 85.5%. CONCLUSION: After triple valve replacement, most patients showed improvement of symptoms. And during follow up period, valve related complications and survival were acceptable. Therefore, if indicated, triple valve replacement is recommended before the patients' conditions get worse.