[Catamnesis of patients with a history of mitral commissurotomy in childhood and adolescence].

In 129 children catamnesis was traced over a period from 6 months to 12 years after commissurotomy. Late after surgery the course of rheumatism proved more favourable than before the operation. On expiration of 6 months good results were recorded in 93.2, in 1-3 years-in 83.5 and after 7-12 years-in 50 per cent of the patients. With lengthened periods of observation the number of good results was diminishing due to restenosis and formation of new defects. Most patients with unfavourable results had earlier undergone a fully effective commissurotomy and during the first follow-up years the results were good. Relapses, new defects and progressive deterioration of the initial ones were registered in 36.4 per cent of the cases and 1/3 of the patients are in need of repeated surgery.