The dynamics of cardiac dimensions following mitral valve prosthesis in patients with rheumatic heart disease complicated by cardiomegaly and subjected to repeated surgery

A total of 36 patients with cardiac output above 1000 ml per 1 m2 of body surface underwent repeated operations. As to the endurance of physical loading 10 patients corresponded to the III and 26 patients to the IV functional classes according to the Classification of the New York Association of Cardiologists. In the postoperative period 18 patients with the 1st degree of heart enlargement showed a decrease in the size of the heart. In 8 patients with cardiomegaly of the II-III degree the heart volume remained unchanged. Five patients died from progressing myocardial insufficiency. As far as the endurance of physical load is concerned 16 patients corresponded to the 1st and 12 patients to the II-III functional classes. Based on the data obtained it may be concluded that with respect to the patients with cardiomegaly of the III degree the prospects of surgical correction of acquired heart diseases are unfavourable.