Current approach to the surgical treatment of recurrent mitral valve stenosis
In the period of 1971-1989, 266 patients with mitral restenosis were operated on: 82 closed mitral recomissurotomies and 184 operations under artificial circulation were performed. Complicated mitral diseases were found in 94% of the patients operated on. The causes of the mitral restenosis are analysed, and the features of its surgical correction together with the short- and long-term results are discussed. Comparison of the closed and open methods of the therapy for mitral stenosis showed that open-heart interventions under artificial circulation are most effective, prevent recurrences, and thus may be considered the operation of choice due to significantly lower hospital mortality rates in the recent five years.