AN EVALUATION OF MITRAL VALVE PROCEDURES USING THE EUROPEAN SYSTEM FOR CARDIAC OPERATIVE RISK EVALUATION

Background and Aims: This study was undertaken in order to evaluate the usefulness of the Euroscore in the choice and outcome of mitral valve procedures undertaken at the Helsinki University Central Hospital. Material and Methods: Data from 378 patients was collected. Predicted mortalities were calculated for all patients using the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation and different mitral valve procedures were compared with 30-day mortality, length of hospital care and rate of post-operative complications. Results: The mortality rate in the mitral valve repair (MVP) group decreased gradually from 5.9% (in 1999) to 2.2% (2003). The variation of annual mortality was higher in the mitral valve replacement (MVR) group. The predicted mortality given by EuroSCORE increased over the years in both groups. The mortality in the MVR group was nearly four times higher than in the MVP group. The length of both intensive and overall hospital stay decreased in patients with MVP procedures. Post-operative survival was 89% in the MVP patients and 74% in MVR patients after three years. Discussion: The results of mitral valve operations have improved. This is observed as decreased mortality rates and lengths of hospital care in the MVP group, although the predicted mortality rate was increased.