Metabolic Changes Associated with Mitral Valvuloplasty

Patients with chronic congestive heart failure operated upon for the surgical correction of mitral stenosis have been observed repeatedly to have low plasma sodium concentrations and elevated plasma potassium concentrations after operation. This study was primarily directed at an understanding of these abnormalities. The authors have shown that the preoperative patient has a characteristic disorder of body composition noteworthy for a high total body water, a high total body sodium, a low total exchangeable potassium and a low plasma sodium concentration. The effects of surgery on this abnormal body composition, and the therapeutic implications are discussed.