Management of the Circulatory, Inflammatory and Metabolic Complications of Mitral Valvulotomy

THE management of rheumatic heart disease in adult patients has been greatly advanced in recent years by the development of surgical methods for partial relief of the valvular stenoses that contribute so greatly to the symptoms of this disease. Mitral valvulotomy has won particularly wide acceptance and, in selected, uncomplicated cases, has attained a favorably low operative mortality (5 per cent). Nevertheless, various problems that may arise after this operation are of particular concern not only to those responsible for the immediate postoperative care of the patient but also to those who must continue to meet the problems of a . . .