[Treatment of MSOF after heart valve replacement: an analysis of 53 cases].

We treated 53 patients with multiple system organ failure (MSOF) following heart valve replacement. MVR was performed in 20 cases, AVR in 6 and DVR in 27. Before operation, NYHA functional class II was in 5, III in 17, and IV in 31. MSOF of all 53 patients occurred within 2-7 days after operation, and failing organs involved heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, gastrointestinal and blood coagulation system. The patients with the maximum organ failure had 6 failing organs, 36 of the 53 patients were living and 17 (32.1%) died. The mortality correlated positively with the number of failing organs. The results of MSOF which occurred sequentially were better compared with those occurred simultaneously. The death rate in patients with class IV was higher than that in those class II, III. The type of operation (MVR, AVR, DVR) did not effect the result of MSOF. The causes and management of MSOF after heart valve replacement were discussed.