[What effect does impaired left ventricular function have on prognosis following prosthetic aortic valve replacement?].

Data of 286 patients with advanced chronic aortic valve disease (NYHA class III or IV) who underwent aortic valve replacement between 1975 and 1982 were retrospectively analyzed using a multivariate Cox regression analysis. Preoperatively, left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction were determined angiographically in all patients. In patients with aortic stenosis and impaired left ventricular ejection fraction survival rate up to 7 years was identical as compared to those with aortic stenosis and normal ejection fraction. Survival rate in patients with aortic stenosis who were operated within 76 days after heart catheterization was better than in those who were operated after a longer time interval (p less than 0.05). In patients with aortic insufficiency and impaired left ventricular ejection fraction, prognosis was poorer after operation than in patients with aortic insufficiency and normal ejection fraction (p = 0.05). Thus, patients with advanced aortic stenosis should be operated as soon as the diagnosis is established. Impaired left ventricular ejection fraction is not a risk factor for prognosis after valve replacement for aortic stenosis. In contrast, in patients with aortic insufficiency left ventricular dysfunction is a risk factor for prognosis after operation.