[Results of heart valve replacement. Prognosis--occupational and general disability--occupational rehabilitation].

The success of valve surgery has led to a marked improvement in prognosis, quality of life and exercise tolerance in patients with symptomatic valvular heart disease. The degree of subjective and objective improvement depends on multiple preoperative factors like NYHA status, left ventricular function, valve lesion and type of valve replaced as well as peri- and postoperative factors like the occurrence of a perioperative myocardial infarction, the degree of intraoperative myocardial damage, the type of valve replaced and the speed and degree of postoperative regression of left ventricular hypertrophy and dilatation. The postoperative exercise tolerance is a major determinant for postoperative vocational rehabilitation. Therefore the individual functional assessment of patients postoperatively is of major importance.