3.4 Follow-up results
A total of 161 (95.8%) patients received a follow-up visit with a
median duration of 6 (6-13) months. During the follow-up periods, the
clinical manifestations disappeared, and no deaths or re-interventions
were observed. As shown in Figure 2, NYHA functional class significantly
improved from the preoperative values, with no patients being class III
or IV.
TTE examination at the latest follow-up showed the maximum LVOT
gradients were significantly lower than the preoperative values (Figure
3). Three patients were identified as residual obstruction with the
maximum gradients of 34 mmHg, 39 mmHg, and 42 mmHg, respectively.
However, the 3 patients did not receive repeat surgery or alcohol septal
ablation. As summarized in Table 2, moderate MR at the latest follow-up
was recorded in 2 (1.2%) patients with no symptoms, which was
significantly lower than the preoperative value (1.2% vs. 57.7%,
p<0.001). There were no cases of severe MR at follow-up. Note
that one patient who developed iatrogenic septal perforation
intraoperatively was found to have one 2-mm asymptomatic ventricular
septal defect during follow-up. The patient was categorized as NYHA
class I, and dynamic evaluation was continued.