[Left ventricular function after Konno procedure for congenital aortic stenosis].

From February, 1984 to September, 1988, eighteen patients with congenital aortic stenosis underwent Konno procedure. There was no operative death, but one late death (5.6%). The annular diameter ranged from 9 mm to 23 mm (mean 15 mm). Preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) measured by cineangiography ranged from 0.59 to 0.92 (mean 0.77) and half of the patients had more than 0.80 of LVEF. Left ventricular function after the operation was evaluated at rest or during exercise by radionuclide ventriculography. Postoperative LVEF ranged from 0.59 to 0.89 (mean 0.75). Although there were no statistically significant changes between preoperative and postoperative LVEF, there was a trend that preoperative supernormal LVEF improved to normal after surgery. The response to exercise also improved in some cases after surgery. We concluded that Konno procedure can be safely undertaken with improvement of left ventricular function.