In order to determine the definitive role of commissurotomy in the treatment o fmitral stenosis, long-term results were evaluated. Sixty-four patients under-gone closed mitral commissurotomy of finger fracture method and followed postoperative1y for over 10 years were subjected to this study. Results were analyzed and evaluated, and conclusions were made, as follows; Closed commissurotomy was an excellent palliative surgical procedure for mitral stenosis. Its porgnosis, however, depended largely upon valve pathology, other than surgical procedure itself, and annual late mortality rate of 2.7% may be unavoidable. To obtain a full symptomatic relief for a possible longerperiod of time, reoperation should be carried out rather positively, as indicated.
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