The Natural History of Rheumatic Valvular Heart Disease and its Bearing upon the Results of Surgery for Mitral Stenosis: Paper Read at the Sixth Scandinavian Congress for Rheumatology in Lund, 1956

Abstract
Summary Two groups of patients with mitral stenosis — one treated conservatively during 1930—50 and with autopsy confirmation and one operated upon during 1950—55 — are compared as regards the long term prognosis. In our opinion it is as yet not possible to draw any definite conclusions about the supposed increased life expectancy after operation for mitral stenosis mostly because the long term prognosis for conservatively treated patients has shown a continuous improvement during the last 10—15 years.