[Changes in heart size after surgical correction of rheumatic defects complicated by cardiomegaly in reoperated patients].

Twenty-nine patients with a cardiac volume ranging from 1074 to 1596 ml/m2 and with varying left ventricular myocardial contractility abnormalities underwent surgical therapy for acquired valvular disease. The volume of the heart became normal in 16 patients with hypokinesia of one of the left ventricular walls. There was no positive changes in cardiac sizes in 12 patients with hypokinesia of one or two left ventricular walls. Only one patients with left ventricular lateral wall and apical hypokinesia had an enlarged cardiac volume following the surgery.