Background and aim
Carcinoid heart disease is a rare, acquired heart valvular disease
affecting mainly the right chambers. Cardiac surgery is the only
definite symptom relieving option and has significantly transformed
patient short and midterm prognosis. In this study, we aim to
retrospectively analyze the postoperative outcomes of patients with
carcinoid syndrome after heart valve surgery.
Methods
Data was retrospectively collected for patients referred to our
institution for carcinoid heart disease and operated between 2013 and
beginning of 2021.
Results
8 patients underwent heart valve replacement with 1 having quadruple
valve surgery, 3 patients had both tricuspid and pulmonary valves
changed while 4 had only tricuspid valve replacements ; 3 patients had
mechanical prostheses. 3 deaths occurred during the follow-up till date
with 2 inside the perioperative period. No case of valvular
complications was reported. Mean ICU and hospital stay were 9,4 days
(range 1-39) and 23,5 days (range 10-52) respectively. 2 patients needed
postoperative dialysis, 1 needed re-intubation and no patient required
extracorporeal life support. The mean time period from diagnosis to
valve surgery was 16,6 months (range 1-60). Follow-up (2-84 months)
showed excellent postoperative clinical status with NYHA 1 in all
patients.
Conclusions
Timely heart valve surgery in patients with close multidisciplinary
monitoring is associated with good midterm survival rates and low
perioperative valvular complications. Patients should be considered for
surgery the soonest possible irrespective of the number of valves
concerned as functional status improves drastically in most patients.
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