[Surgical treatment of endocardial cushion defect in 3 elderly patients].

We performed surgical treatment for partial endocardial cushion defect in 3 patients over fifty year old. Case 1 was a 55-year-old-male with TR of grade II. Case 2 was a 59-year-old-female with TR and MR, and was repaired mitral cleft by a mattress suture. She needed infusion of dopamine (over 5 micrograms/kg/min) for 6 days and therapy of mediastinitis postoperatively. Case 3 was 56-year-old-male without atrioventricular valve regurgitation. Preoperative left ventricular volume was small in all patients, therefore perioperative circulatory control, mainly water balance, and respiratory control were importance. All patients survived, and both decreasing of CTR and improvement of NYHA classification were recognized in all three patients. In conclusion the operation for ECD in even elder patients was effective, but intensive care needed perioperatively.