[Remote results of surgical treatment of mitral valve stenosis complicated by relative tricuspid valve insufficiency].

A total of 500 patients with mitral stenosis subjected to mitral commissurotomy were examined 1 to 14 years after surgery. Relative tricuspid insufficiency accompanying mitral stenosis was detected preoperatively in 104 patients (20.8%). The authors concluded that it was rationale to undertake mitral commissurotomy in such patients after careful preoperative preparation, and to treat them medically afterwards. The follow-up analysis demonstrated that good results of surgery were achieved in 32 cases (30.8%), satisfactory--in 60 (56.7%), poor--in 11 (10.5%). One patient died after surgery for mitral re-stenosis. A comparison of 2 groups of patients--Group 1 with mitral stenosis and relative tricuspid valve insufficiency, and Group 2 with mitral stenosis alone without tricuspid insufficiency--revealed that the late results were better in Group 1. To maintain the positive effect of surgery in all the cases preventive anti-rheumatism measures should be taken the year round.