Left ventricle restoration in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy: risk factors and predictors of outcome and change of mid-term ventricular function

Objective: The partial left ventriculectomy (PLV) for end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) which worked in some patients has been reported, although the hospital mortality is high. To reduce hospital mortality, we selected operative procedures of left ventricular (LV) restoration to improve the operative results. We analyzed the risk factors and predictors of outcome, and the mid-term changes of the LV function were determined. Patients and methods: Between December 1996 and September 2000, 74 patients with non-ischemic DCM received LV restoration. The age ranged from 14 to 76 years (mean, 49.0 +/- 14.0 years), and there were 63 men and 11 women. The etiology of the DCM was idiopathic DCM in 49 patients, and dilated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in seven patients and others in 18. The preoperative New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class was 29 in class III and 45 in class IV, in which 32 patients depended on inotropic support. PLV or septal anterior ventricular exclusion (SAVE) was selected depending on the akinetic lesion of the LV based on the intraoperative echo-test. Fifty-six patients received elective operations, and emergency operations were performed in 18 patients. The risk factors and predictors of outcome were analyzed in 74 patients, and in 35 patients who survived more than 1 year after receiving LV restoration, the mid-term cardiac function was examined by cardiac echogram and catheterization. Results: PLV was performed in 62 patients and SAVE in 12 patients. Concomitant mitral surgery was performed in 66 patients (89%) and tricuspid annuloplasty in 42 patients (57%). There were 15 hospital deaths and 13 patients died after discharge from the hospital (cardiac deaths in nine and non-cardiac deaths in four). In the 46 late survivors, the NYHA class was I or II in 42 patients and III in four patients. Selection of the procedure of LV restoration (P < 0.01), elective operation (P < 0.05), and the preoperative volume of LV (endodiastolic volume index of <180 ml/m(2); P < 0.05) were risk factors and predictors influencing hospital and late death. After the operation, the LV function improved significantly and the improvement was maintained at the mid-term period; the LV ejection fraction was 31.8 +/- 7.9% (P < 0.01) at 1 year from 23.0 +/- 7.3% preoperatively, left ventricular diastolic diameter was 62.8 +/- 10.9 (P < 0.01) from 81.7 +/- 8.2 mm and the LV endosystolic volume index was 88.5 +/- 45.8 (P < 0.05) from 162.6 +/- 41.6 ml/m(2). Conclusions: The operative results improved with the selection of the procedures, with elective operation, and mitral plasty for less cardiac dilatation. The mid-term results of clinical status and LV function showed the effectiveness of the operation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.