[Physical activity and the work capacity of patients with artificial heart valves before and after rehabilitation].

The physical condition of patients how underwent operations for prosthetics of one or more valves was appraised in five groups (as recommended by N. M. Amosov and Y.

[Clinical anatomical basis of the pathogenesis of fatal complications in the late periods after heart valve prosthesis].

On the basis of clinico-anatomical analysis of the causes of death in 35 patients following valve prosthetics for rheumatic valvular disease, it was established that cardiac failure was the most frequent cause. Cardiac failure was due to exacerbation of the carditis process on the one hand, and to disorders of the rhythm induced by dystrophy, sclerosis, fibroelastosis, and calcinosis in the cardiac septum on the other. Thromboembolic processes rate second in frequency among the lethal complications.