Ventricular resection is a type of open-heart surgery to reshape and resize the heart. The surgery may help to improve survival in people with heart failure.
Ventricular resection is a surgical procedure to treat heart failure in people with an enlarged heart. The surgery reshapes the heart and returns it to a standard size.
The surgery usually alters the size and shape of the left ventricle, which is the lower left chamber of the heart and is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.
People may have ventricular resection to treat a ventricular aneurysm, which is a weakened area of the ventricles that can occur as a complication of a heart attack.
Research suggests ventricular resection can result in long-term survival. However, a lot of the studies are small and, with improvements in heart failure therapies, these surgeries may become less necessary and happen with less frequency.
According to a 2019 study, surgical ventricular restoration (SVR), a type of ventricular resection procedure, can result in long-term survival.
The study examined survival rates in 109 people undergoing SVR between 1992 and 2017. The survival rates were as follows:
- 5-year survival rate: 71.9%
- 10-year survival rate: 48.1%
- 15-year survival rate: 26.2%
Almost half of the people who had SVR survived to 10 years postsurgery.
Factors affecting survival rates
Certain factors may affect survival rates with ventricular resection. According to a 2021 article, factors that may lead to less favorable outcomes with SVR include:
- diastolic dysfunction, before or after surgery, with mitral valve regurgitation
- the specific results postsurgery, including the shape and volume of the left ventricle
- right ventricular dysfunction pre-surgery
- poor kidney function
A person’s sex appears to have no effect on the long-term outcomes of SVR.
According to a small
The study suggests mortality occurs in 25% to 45% of heart failure cases within one year following heart failure. However, in the study, SVR resulted in a five-year total survival rate of 85.3% out of 34 participants.
According to another 2019 study, surgery is the main treatment for left ventricular (LV) aneurysm with symptoms. Research has found SVR to:
- improve heart failure symptoms
- improve ejection fraction, which refers to how well the heart pumps blood
- reduce ventricular volume
- improve ventricular arrhythmias
- reduce the need for defibrillator implants
- improve survival
SVR vs. other treatment options
A 2018 study compared the effectiveness of different treatments for LV aneurysm and recommended surgery as a first-choice treatment.
The study found that coronary artery bypass graft with LV resection had more favorable outcomes, higher survival rates, and reduced recurrence rates than percutaneous coronary intervention and drug treatments.
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Ventricular resection is a type of open-heart surgery. Potential risks of this procedure
- inflammation at the incision site
- infection
- pneumonia
- arrhythmias
- excessive bleeding
- damage to tissues and organs, including the heart or lungs
- memory or cognitive problems, which may improve within a year of surgery
- blood clots, which can lead to venous thromboembolism or stroke
- death
People’s overall health can affect the level of risk with heart surgery, and the risk of life threatening complications is higher in people with very unfavorable health pre-surgery.
Following a doctor’s guidance and attending regular check-ups during recovery
- taking any medication as a doctor prescribes
- eating a heart-healthy diet
- avoiding or quitting smoking
- staying physically active in line with a doctor’s recommendations
- managing stress
- getting enough quality sleep
People may have cardiac rehabilitation following ventricular resection surgery, which is a program to promote better heart health and
People will need to contact a doctor if they have any of the following symptoms following ventricular resection:
Can a damaged left ventricle be repaired?
Ventricular resection is surgery to repair a damaged left ventricle. Although it cannot cure heart failure, it can help restore the left ventricle to a standard shape and size and improve its ability to pump blood to the rest of the body.
What is the life expectancy of a person with a ventricular aneurysm?
The five-year mortality rates for ventricular aneurysms may range between
Life expectancy may depend on various factors, including the size of the aneurysm, if symptoms are present, and overall health.
What is the mortality rate for LV aneurysm repair?
For people who have had surgery to repair LV aneurysm, the 5-year survival rates are between
Ventricular resection is a type of open-heart surgery that makes the heart, usually the left ventricle, a more typical size and shape. The procedure may help improve the ability to pump blood to the rest of the body.
Ventricular resection can improve survival in people with heart failure that does not respond to other treatments, large aneurysms, or ventricular arrhythmias.
It is important to discuss the potential risks of the procedure with healthcare professionals and to follow a doctor’s instructions during recovery to help prevent complications that can be life threatening.