[Critical study of the prognostic value of echocardiography in chronic aortic insufficiency].

The aim of this study was to assess whether, as previously reported series have suggested, aortic valve replacement is too late when echocardiography shows a left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVS) greater than or equal to 55 mm, a left ventricular fractional shortening (FS) less than or equal to 25%, and a ratio of left ventricular radius to wall thickness (R/H) greater than or equal to 4. Sixty-seven patients with pure chronic aortic regurgitation were operated in the period between 1979 and June 1981. All had at least one good quality preoperative M mode recording. Using the above mentioned parameters, the patients were divided into two groups: Group I (n = 41) "good surgical candidates" with LVS less than or equal to 55 mm, FS greater than 25%, and/or R/H less than 4; and Group II (n = 26) "high risk candidates" with LVS greater than 55 mm, FS less than or equal to 25% and/or R/H greater than or equal to 4. The clinical improvement was spectacular in both groups after surgery (mean follow-up 28 +/- 8 months). There were no operative deaths but 5 patients out of each group died secondarily. An echocardiogram was recorded in the immediate post-operative period in 55 cases; there was a significant reduction in LV diameters in both groups but the values in Group II remained higher. A control echocardiogram was recorded 17,5 +/- 8,9 months later 46 cases. The LV diameters had returned to normal in Group I but remained at the upper limit of normal in Group II. We conclude that patients with echocardiographic indices of " high risk " usually have a favourable postoperative course. However, although the echocardiographic parameters to improve, they do not return completely to normal.