Attitude after a mild aortic valve lesion during rheumatic mitral valve surgery

Objective: We evaluated whether rheumatic aortic valve disease of mild degree should be treated in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. Methods: From 1992 to 2010, 197 patients (aged 52 [19-82] years, male: female 60: 137) who had rheumatic mitral valve disease and mild aortic valve disease were enrolled. The aortic valve was untreated in 114 patients (no treatment group), repaired in 40 patients (aortic valvuloplasty group), and replaced in 43 patients (aortic valve replacement group). Results: Operative mortality occurred in 4 patients (2.0%). There were no differences in early mortality and postoperative complications among the 3 groups. Overall survival at 5, 10, and 15 years was 96.3%, 92.1%, and 85.7%, respectively. In the no treatment group, progression-free survival in significant aortic valve disease at 5, 10, and 15 years was 98.7%, 91.3%, and 81.1%, respectively. This was not superior in the aortic valvuloplasty group (85.9%, 77.6%, and 69.8%, respectively) than in the no treatment group. Freedom from aortic valve disease was lower in patients with aortic stenosis than in those with aortic regurgitation in univariate and multivariable analyses (P < .001). Reoperation was performed in 19 patients, including 2 aortic valve reoperations. Aortic valve-related event-free survival was similar among the 3 groups. Conclusions: Mild aortic valve disease in patients undergoing rheumatic mitral valve surgery could be left untreated, because preventive aortic valve operation does not result in better clinical and echocardiographic outcomes.