Conservative surgical treatment of valvular injury after blunt chest trauma

Background. Blunt injury to We cardiac valves leads to progressive ventricu lar failure often requiring surgical management. Most frequently, prostheti c replacement is the chosen management. Methods. Three consecutive patients presenting to one surgeon with blunt tr aumatic valve lesions formed We Study group, Results. At operation, the valvular pathology was assessed, and reparative techniques were used to correct the defects. All We patients had an excelle nt outcome at follow-up periods of 2 to 3 years. Conclusions. Conservative operation to repair traumatic valve lesions is fe asible and has potential advantages over replacement. (C) 2000 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.