Immediate results of closed correction of recurrent mitral valve stenosis in the late stages of the disease

: Immediate results of closed surgical correction of recurrence of mitral stenosis in 127 patients at late stages of the disease performed in 1957-1986 are described. Closed re-commissurotomy proved to be possible in 98.5% and was effective in 80% of the patients operated upon. The complications were related with hemorrhage, acute cardiac failure. The intrahospital lethality was 11.8%. Immediate improvement was obtained in 70.1% of the patients after operation. A conclusion was made that closed commissurotomy could be used with sufficient effects in cases where the artificial circulation was impossible.