Postoperative echocardiography data before discharge from
hospital
Echocardiographic results before discharge revealed 98% (n=92) of Group
1 had AR≤1° (80% had no AR) and 98% (n=47) of Group 2 had AR≤1° (94%
had no AR) (p=0.7). Only one patient of Group 1 had AR=2°. Aortic
regurgitation >2° was not observed at the time of
discharge. There was no significant difference between the two groups
regarding left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at time of discharge
(53±10% mean in Group 1 vs 55±9% mean in Group 2; p=0.3). The mean
aortic valve gradients (Pmean) were similar in both groups (11±6 mmHg in
Group 1 vs 9±4 mmHg in Group 2; p=0.1).