Abstract
There are few reports on the long term efficacy of surgery for endocardial cushion defect (ECD) in elderly patients. We report a case with a successful course after ECD operation. A 70-year-old man was admitted with incomplete ECD, grade III mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, pulmonary hypertension and atrial fibrillation. The operative procedures included direct closure of the mitral cleft, pericardial patch closure for the ostium primum defect, direct closure of the tricuspid cleft and tricuspid annuloplasty. Pulmonary hypertension was improved after the operation, and he was discharged on the 41st day after the operation. Now, 3 years and 6 months after the operation, he has maintained an improved quality of life (QOL) with an uneventful postoperative course. The present report may suggest one solution for the long term effective treatment by operation for elderly patients who suffer from ECD, especially to achieve better QOL.
