Reversal of abnormal cardiac parameters following mitral valve replacement for severe mitral stenosis in relation to pulmonary artery pressure: A retrospective study of noninvasive parameters - Early and late pattern.

Background And Objectives: Although the regression of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in mitral stenosis (MS) has been studied over varying periods postintervention, corresponding studies on the cardiac chamber alterations after surgery are very limited. We sought to determine the degree of reversal of these and the clinical status in connection with that of pulmonary artery pressures (PAPs) in the early and late postoperative periods.

Methods: The preoperative, early, and 1-year postoperative data - functional class (FC), cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) in chest X-ray (CXR), and echocardiographically left atrium (LA), right atrium (RA), right ventricle (RV), left ventricle (LV), and pulmonary artery (PA) dimensions, PAP, tricuspid regurgitation (TR) - of 50 patients who had mitral valve replacement (MVR) for MS with PH were retrospectively analyzed for correlations with PAP (Pearson's), and their change (-test), in relation to that in PAP. PH group-based [Group (Gp)-I PAP ≤60 mmHg, Gp-II PAP >60 mmHg] analysis highlighted the differences.

Results: All parameters significantly correlated with the baseline PAP ( < 0.05), except LA ( = 0.081,  = 0.577). Postoperatively, there was significant reduction in all parameters ( < 0.001) and increase in LV ( < 0.003). The PAP regression was 39.42%; with the decrease in CTR, LA, and RA related to it, the early changes being significant ( < 0.01). The RV and PA showed lesser reduction (8.61% and 9.42%), late reduction being more conspicuous. The changes were greater and significant in Gp-II (especially PAP, RV, and PA). At 1 year, PAP normalized in only 19 (38%). Residual PH and chamber enlargement prevailed more in Gp-II.

Conclusions: This study emphasizes the importance of the baseline PAP in MS to which was proportionate the functional disability and the cardiac chamber alterations (except LA). Their postoperative improvement accompanying the PAP regression differed in degree and time frame relative to PAP. The higher pressure group showed greater regression, but greater prevalence of residual abnormalities, suggesting that the pathologic changes in them might take longer to resolve, necessitating further evaluation.