Results of reoperation for periprosthetic leakage.

Between 1961 and 1978, 6,602 valves were replaced in 5,660 patients. Reoperation for periprosthetic leakage was performed in 105 patients (1.6% of the valves); early mortality was 5.7%. At reoperation, 52% of patients were in New York Heart Association Classes III and IV, whereas 72% had been in Classes III and IV prior to the primary valve replacement. Seventy-five patients had aortic periprosthetic leaks, which were distributed equally around the annulus. Among these patients, 41 (55%) had aortic valve rereplacement and 34 (45%) had suture repair. At 5 years, the survival was 94% and the event-free survival was 71%. Seventeen patients had multiple aortic valve reoperations. Hospital mortality for the second reoperation was 5.8%. At late follow-up, 19 patients had murmurs of residual or recurrent aortic periprosthetic leakage. Twenty-nine patients had mitral periprosthetic leaks, most often near the anterior leaflet. Eight patients had mitral valve rereplacement, and 21 had suture repair. At 5 years, the survival was 75% and the event-free survival was 52%. Four patients underwent multiple reoperations. At late follow-up, 5 of the 29 patients in the mitral valve group had murmurs of residual or recurrent periprosthetic leakage. One patient had tricuspid valve rereplacement. The low hospital mortality and the good late results have encouraged us to recommend an aggressive approach in the correction of periprosthetic leakage in all symptomatic and selected asymptomatic patients.