Complications and Predictors of Postoperative Mortality in Patients Undergoing Valve Replacement Surgery

Introduction: Valvulopathies continue to be an important cause of medical consultation and hospitalization. Objective: to identify the main complications and predictors of postoperative mortality in patients undergoing valve replacement surgery.

Methods: An observational, analytical and retrospective study was carried out. The universe consisted of 753 patients.

Results: The main complications reported were the need for electric shocks (29.2%), ventricular fibrillation (28.4%) and endocarditis (9.2%). Patients alive at hospital discharge predominated. The complications most related to mortality were cardiogenic shock (18.0%), low output (28.0%) and sepsis (18.0%). Age greater than or equal to 65 years almost tripled the risk of death. Women were 2.5 times more likely to die before hospital discharge. A glomerular filtration rate below 60 ml/min/1.73m2 is a predictor of mortality.

Conclusion: Extracorporeal circulation remains the technique of choice for valve replacements which together with good myocardial protection and short anoxic arrest, extracorporeal circulation and surgical times decrease perioperative morbidity and mortality. Surgery is a safe and viable option for these patients, although it is not free of complications. The last one includes the appearance of arrhythmias as a result of alterations in the internal environment and acid-base balance. Aging, the presence of comorbidities such as diabetes and impaired renal function in patients with valvular heart disease predispose to the development of complications and death in the postoperative period.

Keywords:Valvulopathies; Surgery; Mortality; Morbidity; Sepsis