Left ventricular volume reduction surgery: The 4th international registry report 2004

Background and Methods: An international registry of left ventricular volume reduction (LVVR) procedures, including partial left ventriculectomy, has been expanded, updated, and refined to include 568 cases voluntarily reported from 52 hospitals in 12 countries. Results: Gender, age, ventricular dimension, ethnology, myocardial mass, presence or absence of mitral regurgitation, as well as transplant indication, had little effect on event-free survival, which was defined as either absence of death or ventricular failure requiring mechanical assist or transplantation. Poor preoperative patient condition such as New York Heart Association classification IV, depressed contractility and decompensation requiring an emergency procedure were associated with reduced event-free survival. Other risk factors included an early surgery date, lack of experience, dilated cardiomyopathy as the underlying pathology and extended myocardial resection. Performance of LVVR reached a peak by 1998, but was largely abandoned by 2001, except in Asia, where experienced institutes continue to perform it in patients in better condition with preserved myocardial contractility. Conclusion: Avoidance of risk factors appears to have contributed to the recent survival improvement and may help stratify patients for LVVR. While performance has been decreasing, the concept has been extended to other LVVR and less invasive procedures, which are now under clinical trials.