Abstract
Background: We evaluated operative outcomes after third or more cardiac operations for valvular heart disease, and analyzed whether pericardial coverage with artificial membrane is helpful for subsequent reoperation. Methods: From 2000 to 2012, 149 patients (male : female=70 : 79; mean age at operation, $57.0{\pm}11.3$ years) underwent their third to fifth operations for valvular heart disease. Early results were compared between patients who underwent their third operation (n=114) and those who underwent fourth or fifth operation (n=35). Outcomes were also compared between 71 patients who had their pericardium open during the previous operation and 27 patients who had artificial membrane coverage. Results: Intraoperative adverse events occurred in 22 patients (14.8%). Right atrium (n=6) and innominate vein (n=5) were most frequently injured. In-hospital mortality rate was 9.4%. Total cardiopulmonary bypass time ($225{\pm}77$ minutes vs. $287{\pm}134$ minutes, p=0.012) and the time required to prepare aortic cross clamp ($209{\pm}57$ minutes vs. $259{\pm}68$ minutes, p<0.001) increased as reoperations were repeated. However, intraoperative event rate (13.2% vs. 20.0%), in-hospital mortality (9.6% vs. 8.6%) and postoperative complications were not statistically different according to the number of previous operations. Pericardial closure using artificial membrane at previous operation was not beneficial in reducing intraoperative events (25.9% vs. 18.3%) and shortening operation time preparing aortic cross clamp ($248{\pm}64$ minutes vs. $225{\pm}59$ minutes) as compared to no-closure. Conclusion: Clinical outcomes of the third or more operations for valvular heart disease were acceptable in terms of intraoperative adverse events and in-hospital mortality rates. There were no differences in the incidence of intraoperative adverse events, early mortality and postoperative complications between third cardiac operation and fourth or more.
