The course of pulmonary hypertension in patients operated for rheumatic mitral heart disease

Aim, To study changes in pulmonary hypertension in patients with isolated m itral valvular defects of rheumatic etiology after surgical correction and in the early postoperative period. Materials and methods. Central hemodynamics in heart chamber probing before operation and intraoperatively were measured in 98 patients with rheumatic mitral defects (41 males, 57 females, mean age 39.5+/-8.74). Manometry bef ore and after the defect correction, intraoperative catheterization (cath. Swan-Ganz) for hemodynamics 24-h follow-up were made. Results. After valvular defect correction 90(91%) patients had residual pul monary hypertension, stage II-III in 41%. Conclusion. Patients operated for rheumatic heart disease complicated by pu lmonary hypertension often suffer from residual pulmonary hypertension. Thi s requires pharmacological correction.