RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: With the increase in the elderly population, cardiologists and surgeons are faced with an increased incidence of mitral regurgitation. Most of these patients are denied surgery due to a misconceived perception of ominous surgical results. Our objective was to analyze early and late survival in elderly patients after mitral valve surgery in a center in which replacement is the procedure of choice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We obtained clinical follow-up of patients older than 70 years who underwent first-time isolated replacement from January 2000 to January 2012. Observed survival was compared with expected survival in the general population of Uruguay. Independent predictors of operative mortality and survival were determined. RESULTS: A total of 127 patients were included. Global operative mortality was 9.4% (1.8% after year 2006 vs 15.3% before 2006; p<0.05). Surgery performed before 2006, preoperative hematocrit and creatinine were independent predictors for operative mortality after multivariate analysis. 6-year survival was 70.2% for females (72.4% expected survival, p=ns) and 40.1% in males (63.5% expected survival, p<0.05). Independent predictors of survival were surgery performed before 2006 (HR=3.2) and female sex (HR=0.4). CONCLUSION: Mitral valve replacement is a feasible option for elderly patients with mitral valve disease in centers with lack expertise in valve repair. Actual surgical results provide low operative mortality and similar survival to general the population (mainly in females).
RESUMEN
Background: With the increase in the elderly population, cardiologists and surgeons are faced with an increased incidence of mitral regurgitation. Most of these patients are denied surgery due to a misconceived perception of ominous surgical results. Our objective was to analyze early and late survival in elderly patients after mitral valve surgery in a center in which replacement is the procedure of choice. Material and Methods: We obtained clinical follow-up of patients older than 70 years who underwent first-time isolated replacement from January 2000 to January 2012. Observed survival was compared with expected survival in the general population of Uruguay. Independent predictors of operative mortality and survival were determined. Results: A total of 127 patients were included. Global operative mortality was 9.4% (1.8% after year 2006 vs 15.3% before 2006; p<0.05). Surgery performed before 2006, preoperative hematocrit and creatinine were independent predictors for operative mortality after multivariate analysis. 6-year survival was 70.2% for females (72.4% expected survival, p=ns) and 40.1% in males (63.5% expected survival, p<0.05). Independent predictors of survival were surgery performed before 2006 (HR=3.2) and female sex (HR=0.4). Conclusion: Mitral valve replacement is a feasible option for elderly patients with mitral valve disease in centers with lack expertise in valve repair. Actual surgical results provide low operative mortality and similar survival to general the population (mainly in females).
RESUMEN
Intravenous uterine leiomyomatosis is the invasion of the para-uterine veins by bundles of benign uterine muscle. These muscle bundles can grow and extend directly to pelvic organs or embolize to the right cardiac chambers or pulmonary artery. We report a patient who presented with two large mobile atrial masses that were seen on echocardiography. She was treated by excision of a 18cm mass from the right atrium, two masses from the right ventricle and a huge mass from the pulmonary artery. The tricuspid valve that was rendered insufficient, was repaired by the creation of PTFE neo chordae. Two weeks later a massively enlarged uterus, ovaries, a paracolic and three intraluminal masses in the inferior vena cava were removed. The patient recovered well. One year after surgery she was asymptomatic and no masses are seen in her echocardiogram. The tricuspid valve was competent. Patients presenting with cardiac tumors from intravenous uterine leiomyomatosis must undergo aggressive surgical management to achieve a cure. We recommend a two stage (thoracic and abdominal) approach.
