ABSTRACT
First experiences with multistage surgical reconstruction of the left ventricle, heart valves and coronary arteries in patients with the end stage dilated cardiomyopathy are summarized. During the last three years operations have been made on 21 patients aged from 24 to 63, eight patients having idiopathic cardiomyopathy and 13 ischemic cardiomyopathy. They had markedly disturbed hemodynamics, ejection fraction of the left ventricle less than 30% and its diastolic diameter more than 70 mm. Most of the patients were candidates for heart transplantation. The Batista and Dor operations were made in combination with plastic operations on the mitral and tricuspid valves. In patients with ischemic heart disease myocardial revascularization was also performed. Four patients died after operation from arrhythmia and heart failure, the others' state had improved with less sizes of the heart and 10-12% greater ejection fraction. A conclusion was made that such operations were expedient.
