Abstract
Objective: Assessment of surgical pathology of
excised heart valves in a referral hospital in Iran in a
five years period.
Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was
done from 2002 to 2005 in Rajaie heart center in
Tehran, Iran. Surgery and pathology records of
patients who underwent valve replacement or repair
surgery were reviewed.
Results: Of 1563 patients 738 (47.2%) underwent
mitral, 565 (36.1%) aortic, and 215 (14%) multivalve
operation. Most common pathology of mitral valve
was rheumatic (68%), while degenerative calcific
pathology was dominant in aortic valve (52%).
Rheumatic involvement was 46%, and degenerative
pathology was common in tricuspid and pulmonary
valves (50% and 67%, respectively). Time trend
analysis shows no significant variation in excised
valves pathology or pattern from 2002 to 2005
(p=0.112).
Conclusion: Rheumatic pathology in excised heart
valves is still common in this referral heart center in
Iran, and no obvious change in this pattern was found
during a 5 years period. (Rawal Med J 2007;32:70-
72)

Key words: Mitral stenosis, aortis stenosis, aortic regurgitation, mitral regurgitation.