Clinical features of third open-heart valve surgery at the same valve position.

Objective: Recently, there has been an increase in case of repeated open-heart valve surgery and the clinical results of the second surgery are only slightly worse than those of the first surgery. However, clinical results of the third open-heart valve surgery at the same position are rarely reported. Clinical features of third open-heart valve surgery at the same position are discussed in this study.Methods: Between 1995 and 2004, 16 patients underwent third open-heart valve surgery at the same valve position under cardiopulmonary bypass. The average age of the 16 patients, 12 females and 4 males, was 56±15 years. Clinical features of the 16 cases were retrospectively analyzed.Results: Mechanical valve nonstructural dysfunction was the most common valve malady, followed by bioprosthetic valve dysfunction. The duration of surgery from skin incision to establishment of the cardiopulmonary bypass was 94±42 minutes. Myocardial ischemia time was 137±38 minutes and extracorporeal circulation time was 212±82 minutes. Early mortality was seen in 1 patient (6.25%) and late mortality was seen in 1 patient.Conclusion: Mechanical valve nonstructural valve dysfunction leads to repeated valve surgery. The clinical results of the third open-heart valve surgery at the same valve position are acceptable, and the mid-term survival is excellent.