Posterior leaflet preservation during mitral valve replacement for rheumatic mitral stenosis.

Mitral valve replacement with posterior leaflet preservation was shown beneficial for postoperative left vetricular (LV) performance in patients with mitral regurgitation. Some authors find it beneficial even for the long term LV function. We investigated a long term effect of this technique in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. We studied 20 patents with mitral valve replacement due to rheumatic mitral stenosis, in the period from January 1988 to December 1989. In group A (10 patients) both leaflets and coresponding chordal excision was performed, while in group B (10 patients) the posterior leaflet was preserved. In all patients a Carbomedics valve was inserted. We compared clinical pre and postoperative status, as well as hemodynamic characteristics of the valve and left ventricle in both groups. Control echocardiographyc analysis included: maximal (PG) and mean (MG) gradients; effective valve area (AREA); telediastolic (TDV) and telesystolic (TSV) LV volume; stroke volume (SV); ejection fraction (EF); fractional shortening (FS) and segmental LV motion. The mean size of inserted valve was 26.6 in group A and 27.2 in group B. Hemodynamic data: PG (10.12 vs 11.1); MG (3.57 vs 3.87); AREA (2.35 vs 2.30); TDV 126.0 vs 114.5); TSV (42.2 vs 36.62); SV (83.7 vs 77.75); EF (63.66 vs 67.12); FS (32.66 vs 38.25). Diaphragmal segmental hypokinesis was evident in one patient from group A and in two patients from group B. In patients with rheumatic stenosis, posterior leaflet preservation did not have increased beneficial effect on left ventricular performance during long-term follow-up. An adequate posterior leaflet preservation does not change hemodynamic valvular characteristics even after long-term follow-up.

Complications of operative treatment of injuries of peripheral arteries.

In 1991 and 1992, a total of 97 patients with 106 peripherial arterial injuries underwent surgery at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia. Civilian injuries accounted for 53 (54.6%) patients (94.3% males, age range: 16-63 yr, mean: 35.2), and 44 patients had war injuries (93.2% males, age range: 19-61 yr, mean: 34.8). The injuries affected the superfitial femoral artery in 31 (29.24%); the popliteal artery in 28 (26.41%); the brachial artery in 17 (16.04%); the posterior tibial artery in 6 (5.66%); the axillary artery in 5 (4.72%); the anterior tibial artery in 5 (4.72%); the tibioperoneal trunk in 4 (3. 77%); the common femoral artery in 4 (3.77%); the external iliac artery in 2 (1.89%); the profound femoral artery in 2 (1.89%); the radial artery in 1 (0.94%); and ulnar artery in 1 (0.94%).A total of 98 reconstructive procedures were used to treat these patients. Graft interposition carried out in 50 (51.02%); by pass in 25 (25. 51%); end-to-end anastomosis in 9 (9.18%); suture in 8 (8.16%); ligation in 4 (4.08%); and patch-angioplasty in 2 (2.04%). Primary reconstruction of injured arteries was performed in 72.2% and secondary repair in 27.8% cases. Infection developed in 51 (52.57%) patients, and it was significantly (P<0.05) more common in the war injuries (70.45%) and in secondary repairs (88.89%). The presence of associated lesions (69.56%) was also correlated with a greater rate of infection. Amputation was necessary in 21 (21.65%) of our patients, and was significantly (P<0.05) more often performed after secondary (44.44%) than primary operations (12.86%) and in the presence of associated injuries (32.61%).