The etiology of valvular heart disease (VHD) has changed dramatically in the last five decades. In the western world, the significant reduction of acute rheumatic fever and its sequelae, and the recognition of non-rheumatic causes of VHD induced the metamorphosis in the etiology of valvular disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiological profile of the patients undergoing valvular surgery in a north African center of cardiology.

A retrospective study involving the 246 last patients hospitalized in our department and proposed for valvular surgery from January 2012 to December 2017.

The mean age was 57years. One hundred twenty-one patients were male (49%). Before surgery mean LVEF is 60%±13. Ten percent of the patients were operated with (left ventricular dysfunction LVEF ≤40%). Arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and smoking are respectively present in 29, 7%, 21, 8% and 27, 7% of the patients. A history of rheumatic fever was present in 60, 8% of rheumatic valvular disease. The rheumatic etiology was the most important (50,5%). A preoperative coronary angiography was performed in 63,4% of the patients and coronary artery disease was associated to the valvular heart disease in 14,9%. Mitral valve replacement, aortic-valve replacement and double valve replacement were respectively performed in 38,7%, 35,4% and 18,7% of the cases. Bioprothesis were implanted in 5,29% of the cases. One eighth of the patients underwent coronary artery bypass graft in addition to the valvular surgery. In 16,8% of the cases it was a redo surgery.

Contemporary epidemiological data show a rise of the degenerative etiology and associated coronary artery disease. Surgery offers good results for patients with significant valvular heart disease. Valve replacement and repair are the main surgical options. Older patients and redo procedures are increasingly frequent.