BACKGROUND: We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of
heart valve operations in
solid organ recipients, who were referred for operation to our institution. METHODS: Over an 18-year period, 23
heart (group 1) and 16
renal (group 2) transplant recipients in
New York Heart Association (
NYHA) classes III and IV underwent
valve operation. The
mean interval from the time of transplantation to
cardiac surgery was 77.9 months with a
mean follow-up time of 34.6 months in group 1 and 87.2 months with a
mean follow-up time of 39.2 months in group 2. RESULTS: Group 1 underwent
tricuspid valve replacement (n=12),
tricuspid valve reconstruction (n=7),
aortic valve replacement (AVR, n=3), and
mitral valve replacement (MVR, n=1). In group 2, mechanical
valve replacement was performed in 14 patients (9 AVR, 3 MVR, 2 AVR and MVR) and
tricuspid or
mitral valve reconstruction in two patients. There was no operative death. During hospitalization,
multiorgan failure due to
sepsis was the main cause of mortality (2 in both groups). In the
mean follow-up period of 41.2 months, there were four late non-cardiac-related deaths in group 1. Currently 29 surviving transplant recipients (16
heart, 69.6% and 13
renal, 81.3%) are in
NYHA classes I and II. CONCLUSION: In
heart and
renal recipients,
valve operations can be performed effectively and safely with acceptable mortality, low
cardiac morbidity, and excellent clinical results, although
infection is the most serious complication.
