Background: The long-term effects of double valve replacement on left ventricular function in patients with combined severe rheumatic aortic and mitral regurgitation have not been reported previously. Furthermore, the importance of chordal preservation in this group of patients is unknown.
Methods and results: Serial clinical and echocardiographic evaluations were performed prospectively in 44 patients who underwent double valve replacement for combined aortic and mitral regurgitation. Chordae to the posterior mitral leaflet were preserved in 27 patients. Mean follow-up was 40 +/- 19 months. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter decreased significantly 3 months after surgery (from 66 +/- 10 to 52 +/- 11 mm; P < .001) without a substantial change in end-systolic diameter, resulting in a significant decline in ejection fraction (from 60 +/- 9% to 48 +/- 15%; P < .001). At 1 year, a significant reduction in end-systolic dimension was observed without a concomitant decline in end-diastolic diameter, thus normalizing the ejection fraction (55 +/- 12%; P = .17 versus baseline). No further changes were seen at latest follow-up. Multivariate regression analysis identified baseline end-systolic diameter and ejection fraction as independent predictors of postoperative systolic performance. Chordal preservation did not emerge as a univariate or multivariate predictor.
Conclusions: After an initial postoperative decline in ejection fraction, normalization in left ventricular systolic function may be expected 1 year after double valve replacement for combined rheumatic mitral and aortic regurgitation. End-systolic diameter and ejection fraction are the only independent predictors of postoperative left ventricular performance.