二尖瓣成形术治疗小儿先天性二尖瓣关闭不全

目的总结小儿先天性二尖瓣关闭不全行二尖瓣成形手术的治疗经验。方法1998年3月至2008年3月,对168例小儿先天性二尖瓣关闭不全患儿行二尖瓣成形术,男103例,女65例,平均年龄(3.0±2.1)岁,手术在中低温体外循环下施行,根据不同病理改变采用不同成形方法,术中以注水试验评价成形效果。结果全组患儿术毕二尖瓣无反流或轻度反流,1例术后5 d死于多脏器功能衰竭,平均随诊1个月~10年,有1例二尖瓣反流加重再次手术,发现环缩缝线撕脱,再次成形术后效果满意,168例中无一例行瓣膜置换术,心功能恢复良好。结论对小儿来讲,二尖瓣成形术治疗先天性二尖瓣关闭不全是一种安全、有效的方法,只要可能,尽量施行成形术是一种首选方法。     

缺血性二尖瓣关闭不全的外科治疗

目的　探讨缺血性二尖瓣关闭不全的外科治疗方法 ,分析影响手术疗效的因素。方法　1998年 4月至 2 0 0 3年 11月 ,外科治疗 4 4例冠心病缺血性二尖瓣关闭不全 ,其中轻～中度 7例 ,中度 2 4例 ,重度 13例。行二尖瓣成形术 30例 ,其中交界区瓣环成形术 12例 ,用人工瓣环行瓣环成形术 17例 ,1例行双孔二尖瓣成形 ;4例同时行后瓣叶楔形切除 ,1例作腱索转移。瓣膜置换术 14例 ,置入双叶机械瓣 12例 ,生物瓣 2例。结果　全组手术死亡 7例 ,其中低心排出量综合征或心衰死亡 4例 ,心律失常 2例 ,脑栓塞 1例。 33例术后平均随访 2 0个月 ,远期死亡 2例 ,生存者远期心功能I～II级 2 9例 ,III级 2例。术后超声复查左心室内径较术前明显缩小 [(6 2 3± 6 3)mm对 (5 4 3± 7 1)mm]。行瓣膜成形术者远期复查超声显示无反流或轻微反流 12例 ,轻度反流 5例 ,中度反流 2例。瓣膜置换术者 12例出现瓣周漏 ,其余病例瓣膜功能良好。统计分析显示 ,左心室功能、临床心功能级别与手术风险相关。结论　冠心病合并二尖瓣关闭不全应积极处理 ,手术矫治方式应根据瓣膜病理改变及心功能决定 ,尽量施行瓣膜成形术。     

冠心病合并二尖瓣关闭不全的外科治疗

目的　探讨冠心病合并二尖瓣关闭不全 (MR)的外科治疗方法。方法　 1994年 4月至2 0 0 0年 10月 ,同期手术治疗冠心病合并MR病人 34例 ,其中二尖瓣轻度反流 1例 ,中度反流 2 5例 ,重度反流 8例。二尖瓣的病理改变主要表现为单纯瓣环扩大、瓣叶脱垂或二尖瓣腱索断裂。手术均在低温体外循环下进行。二尖瓣成形 (MVP) 2 7例 ;单纯二尖瓣前交界或双交界折叠环缩 15例 ;脱垂瓣叶切除后再缝合 9例 ;二尖瓣前叶脱垂部分直接缝合到相应的后叶形成双孔二尖瓣 3例 ;应用二尖瓣瓣环 2 0例 ;二尖瓣置换 (MVR) 7例 ,均选择机械瓣。结果　无手术或住院死亡和严重并发症。超声心动图检查提示平均左室舒张末径为 (5 3 0± 6 3)mm ,与术前比较差异有显著性 (P <0 0 1)。 31例平均随访 2 9个月。无远期死亡。病人生活质量均明显提高。心功能I～II级 2 8例 ,III级 3例。超声心动图检查提示微量二尖瓣反流 6例 ,少至中度反流 3例。机械瓣功能正常。结论　冠心病合并中度以上MR应积极处理 ,二尖瓣成形应为首选     

二尖瓣成形术治疗132例中、重度二尖瓣关闭不全患儿的中期疗效

目的 探讨儿童中重度二尖瓣关闭不全成形术的手术方法及治疗效果.方法 回顾性分析132例中重度二尖瓣关闭不全患儿资料,年龄2个月～6岁,平均(18.9±7.2)个月;体质量4～21kg,平均(11.3±4.8)kg.先天性心脏病126例,感染性心内膜炎5例,马方综合征1例.全组患儿均在全麻中低温体外循环下,采用瓣环环缩术、人工瓣环成形术、瓣叶裂缺修补术、后瓣矩形或三角形切除成形术、腱索折叠等个体化的二尖瓣综合成形技术,同期矫治合并的心脏畸形,术中经食管超声(TEE)检查评价成形效果.结果 全组患儿术中TEE示131例无反流或轻度反流;1例中度反流再次行体外循环下二尖瓣成形.术中平均体外循环(80.0±31.1) min,平均主动脉阻断(48.0±17.9) min.早期死亡3例,病死率2.3％,其中2例为完全型房室间隔缺损患儿,分别于术后第7天死于心力衰竭,术后第2天死于低心排血量综合征;1例为大型室间隔缺损合并重度肺动脉高压患儿,术后1个月死于肺部感染.129例成功治愈出院,术后呼吸机辅助(34.4±31.9)h,术后住院(9.0±5.4)天.完整随访122例,时间2～74个月,平均(40.5±8.3)个月.随访期间无死亡.复查超声心动图提示中度反流7例,重度反流3例,4例患儿再次行二尖瓣成形或二尖瓣置换术.本组患儿5年生存率97.7％,免除再手术率92.0％.结论 儿童中重度二尖瓣关闭不全应早期行手术治疗,合并其他心脏畸形需同期矫治,手术治疗的早、中期效果满意.术中根据二尖瓣的具体病变情况,采取个体化的综合成形方法是成功治疗儿童中重度二尖瓣关闭不全的关键.     

三尖瓣脱垂的外科治疗

目的探索应用三尖瓣脱垂瓣缘折叠缝合技术治疗三尖瓣关闭不全的外科方法和疗效。方法1997年4月至2006年3月为6例先天性三尖瓣前叶腱索缺如和3例外伤性腱索断裂的患者实施了外科矫治手术,其中男性6例,女性3例,年龄8～57岁。术前9例患者均有三尖瓣重度关闭不全,右心室前后径均值为(43.6±4.2)mm。5例患者心功能为Ⅲ级,4例为Ⅳ级。连续对折缝合脱垂的三尖瓣瓣缘,折叠缝合脱垂瓣叶相对应的瓣环,并用成形环固定成形后三尖瓣瓣环。结果9例患者术后恢复顺利,无死亡。术后超声心动图检查示:6例患者三尖瓣对合良好无反流,3例患者有少量反流。所有患者术后右心室前后径均显著减小,术后均值为(24.0±1.8)mm,与术前相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。3例房颤心律的患者均转为窦性心律。患者随访1～109个月,除1例患者外,其他8例患者三尖瓣成形效果稳定。8例患者心功能为Ⅰ～Ⅱ级,1例为Ⅲ级。结论应用三尖瓣脱垂瓣叶及其相对应的瓣环折叠技术,可有效修复先天性三尖瓣部分腱索缺如和胸外伤后三尖瓣腱索断裂所致的三尖瓣重度关闭不全。     

右腋下小切口二尖瓣成形术68例

目的探讨经右腋下小切口行二尖瓣成形术的临床效果。方法回顾性分析2003年1月～2011年12月经右腋下5～10 cm小切口行二尖瓣成形术68例的资料。二尖瓣成形方法包括瓣叶裂隙修补6例,瓣叶部分切除28例,交界成形12例,双孔成形10例,人工腱索6例,腱索缩短3例,瓣叶心包补片修补3例;68例中人工瓣环植入38例。结果 68例手术均顺利完成,无严重并发症发生,无手术死亡。术后1周复查超声心动图,二尖瓣无明显反流或仅微量反流52例,轻度反流16例。随访65例,随访时间3个月～8年,其中〉3年32例,2例复发二尖瓣重度关闭不全,经胸骨正中切口行二尖瓣置换手术。其余患者二尖瓣反流均在中度以下。结论右腋下小切口二尖瓣成形术创伤小,出血少,临床效果良好,并且切口位置隐蔽,美容效果好。     

全胸腔镜人工腱索二尖瓣成形术的近期结果

目的评价全胸腔镜二尖瓣成形的手术效果,介绍腔镜下人工腱索构建的个人经验与体会。方法回顾性分析2013年5月至2016年6月体外循环下行全胸腔镜人工腱索二尖瓣成形术71例二尖瓣关闭不全患者的临床资料,其中男47例、女24例,年龄13~78(46.1±14.5)岁。患者病因包括退行性瓣膜病63例,先天性瓣膜病变4例,感染性心内膜炎2例,风湿性瓣膜病1例,心肌病1例。前瓣病变26例,后瓣19例,前后瓣25例,以瓣环扩大为主1例;合并交界区病变13例。二尖瓣反流面积4.2~26.3(12.2±5.6)cm2。手术均在全胸腔镜心脏停跳下进行,以5-0 Gore-tex线为人工腱索材料,均采用逐一单根植入的方法构建人工腱索。结果瓣膜成形转瓣膜置换1例,术中转正中开胸止血1例,无住院死亡病例。体外循环时间(156.0±31.6)min,主动脉阻断时间(110.0±20.1)min。单纯二尖瓣成形39例,二尖瓣成形+三尖瓣成形28例,二尖瓣成形+房间隔缺损修补3例,二尖瓣成形+部分型肺静脉异位引流矫治1例。平均每例患者植入人工腱索1~7(2.5±1.7)根,65例植入二尖瓣成形环。术中经食管超声检查,无反流44例,反流面积0~2 cm2 24例,反流面积2 cm2 3例。反流面积2 cm2的3例患者均有明显的二尖瓣前叶收缩期前向运动(SAM)征,再次阻断主动脉行瓣膜置换1例,再次成形1例,另1例保守治疗。随访1~36(12.7±10.5)个月,失访2例,随访率97.2%。重度反流3例,中度反流5例,轻度或轻微反流27例,未见二尖瓣反流36例。随访期间死亡1例,脑梗死1例,无再次手术病例。结论全胸腔镜下采用单根植入法行人工腱索二尖瓣成形可获得良好效果,其难点在于如何确定腱索长度及保持这一长度的稳定性。     

改良人工腱索联合瓣环成形术在二尖瓣脱垂修复中的应用及远期随访结果

目的探索改良的人工腱索技术联合人工瓣环成形术修复二尖瓣前叶或/和后叶脱垂引起的二尖瓣关闭不全及其近、远期随访效果。方法回顾性分析2006年1月至2014年6月我院应用改良人工腱索技术联合人工瓣环成形术修复二尖瓣前叶或/和后叶脱垂引起的重度二尖瓣关闭不全112例患者的临床资料,其中男69例、女43例,年龄5~73(51.4±14.4)岁。术中在脱垂瓣叶对应的乳头肌上将不带垫片的膨体聚四氟乙烯(ePTFE)缝线作U型缝合,两头的针线则均在距缘3~5 mm处缝合于脱垂瓣叶的游离缘,先将每根线在脱垂的瓣缘缝两针,在置入C型二尖瓣成形环后,通过左心室的反复注水试验,调整人工腱索的长度至最佳位置,直至完全纠正瓣叶脱垂和二尖瓣反流,最后每根针线再在瓣缘缝一针,打结固定。结果全组患者均成功行二尖瓣成形术,每例患者平均植入1~3(2.4±0.7)根e PTFE人工腱索。二尖瓣成形术后,术中经胸超声心动图提示78例患者无二尖瓣反流,34例患者为轻度二尖瓣反流。出院时,复查经胸超声心动图提示二尖瓣无反流72例,轻度反流39例,轻中度反流1例。与术前相比,术后左心室舒张期末内径(LVEDD)明显缩小[(58.6±8.7)mm vs.(50.7±6.3)mm],P0.001]。术后随访3~105(41.5±24.8)个月时,无反流或轻度反流93例,轻中度反流16例,中度反流3例。术后5年,中度以上二尖瓣关闭不全免除率为95.1%±3.0%。结论应用该改良人工腱索技术联合人工瓣环成形术修复瓣叶脱垂引起的二尖瓣关闭不全,操作简单易行,人工腱索的调整、固定方便,近、远期效果良好。     

二尖瓣成形术112例

目的总结先天性心脏病合并二尖瓣关闭不全患者的二尖瓣成形手术方法和临床效果. 方法 112例先天性心脏病患者主要病种为房室间隔缺损29例、室间隔缺损25例、动脉导管未闭14例、房间隔缺损14例等,合并二尖瓣关闭不全的主要病理改变为瓣环扩大58例、瓣叶裂隙37例、前、后瓣叶脱垂36例等.二尖瓣成形方法为瓣叶裂隙缝合34例,Cosgrove环环缩瓣环22例,交界环缩18例,双孔法14例等.术中左心室注水观察、评价成形后二尖瓣反流程度,脱离体外循环后食管超声心动图观察成形结果. 结果全组无死亡,1例因人工腱索断裂行二尖瓣置换术,术后门诊随访二尖瓣反流0 ～Ⅰ级72例,Ⅱ级26例.术前左心室舒张期末直径大于或等于45 mm 62例,术后随访左心房、左心室缩小,与术前比较差别有显著性意义(t=6.53,7.89,P<0.001). 结论先天性心脏病合并二尖瓣关闭不全病理改变较多,根据不同病理改变采取相应的二尖瓣成形方法,甚至需要同时采用多种措施才能获得满意效果;术中行食管超声心动图能为判断手术效果提供有益的帮助.     

二尖瓣成形术116例

目的　为了评价二尖瓣成形术的临床效果 ,对近年来 14岁以上行二尖瓣成形术患者的临床资料进行总结。　方法　二尖瓣病变患者 116例 ,诊断为二尖瓣狭窄 1例 ,二尖瓣狭窄合并关闭不全 6例 ,其余均为单纯二尖瓣关闭不全。超声心动图检查示左心房内径平均 4 8± 10 mm,左心室舒张期末内径平均 6 2± 10 mm。二尖瓣成形术方法 :腱索转移 2例 ,腱索折叠 10例 ,后叶楔形切除 6 7例 ,瓣环环缩 82例。　结果　全组无手术死亡 ,1例术后第 2天出现心力衰竭行二尖瓣置换术。出院前超声心动图示左心房内径平均为 37± 9m m,左心室舒张期末内径平均为 5 1±7mm ,与术前相比均明显缩小。　结论　二尖瓣成形术应根据二尖瓣病变的特征进行选择 ,对非风湿性二尖瓣病变行二尖瓣成形术可取得较满意的临床效果。     

Midterm results of mitral valve repair with artificial chordae in children

OBJECTIVE: We have used artificial chordal replacement with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures for mitral valve repair in children and reported favorable early clinical results. In this article we evaluate the midterm results of mitral valve repair with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures in 39 children. METHODS: From April 1995 through September 2003, mitral valve repair with chordal replacement using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures was performed in 39 patients. In all patients the preoperative grade of mitral regurgitation was moderate or more because of prolapse of the anterior mitral leaflet. The mean age and body weight at the time of the operation were 4.7 +/- 5.3 years (range, 1 month to 17.8 years) and 14.4 +/- 12.2 kg (range, 3.9-54.4 kg), respectively. The number of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures ranged from 1 to 3 (mean, 1.4). The mean follow-up period and body weight at the latest follow-up were 5.0 +/- 2.3 years (range, 1.1-8.5 years) and 25.7 +/- 16.4 kg (range, 6.9-73 kg), respectively. RESULTS: There were no operative or late deaths. Only one patient required mitral valve replacement, which occurred 17 days after repair. Two patients underwent redo mitral valve repair 2 and 5 years after initial repair, respectively. The actuarial freedom from reoperation at 5 and 8 years was 94.8% and 89.5%, respectively. At the latest follow-up, trivial or less mitral regurgitation was observed in 33 (84.6%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Mitral valve repair with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures in children demonstrated favorable midterm outcome. The procedure is safe and effective, with potential for patients' growth.     

婴幼儿二尖瓣关闭不全的成形术

总结１９９０年４月至１９９５年１２月收治婴幼儿二尖瓣关闭不全（ＭＩ）成形术的临床经验。本组７１例中男３５例、女３６例，年龄５个月～３岁、平均２．１岁，体重６～１４ｋｇ、平均１０．２ｋｇ，４１例（５７．８％）＜１０ｋｇ。重度二尖瓣关闭不全１６例，中度４４例，轻度１１例。主要病种包括：单纯ＭＩ３例，ＭＩ＋室间隔缺损和（或）动脉导管未闭３５例，ＭＩ＋房间隔缺损或单心房２２例（Ｉ孔型１６例，Ｉ孔型６例；单心房４例），ＭＩ＋Ｉ孔房间隔缺损和室间隔缺损１１例。手术根据二尖瓣的病理采用瓣交界缝缩、瓣环环缩、修补前瓣叶裂、腱索短缩及转移和后瓣叶成形及共同房室瓣修补等方法修复二尖瓣。同期矫治其它心内畸形。结果术后早期死亡４例（术后感染和低心排综合征各２例），死亡率５．６％。６７例出院病儿中４２例（６２．７％）随诊２个月～５年，平均１．１年。轻度二尖瓣关闭不全５例，中度４例，无重度者；心脏明显缩小。作者认为婴幼儿二尖瓣关闭不全可采用瓣膜成形术治疗，并能取得良好的术后早期和晚期结果。     

Correction of anterior mitral prolapse. Results of chordal transposition.

From 1986 to 1992 102 mitral valve repairs were done for mitral regurgitation due to a degenerative disease. Forty-eight patients had an anterior prolapse or prolapse of both leaflets at initial presentation and underwent chordal transposition from the mural leaflet to the anterior leaflet. The corrective procedure was completed by polytetrafluoroethylene or pericardial posterior annuloplasty. Operative mortality was 2.9%, and follow-up (average 22 months) was 100% complete. There were three postreconstruction valve replacements (one earlier and two later) for a probability of freedom from reoperation of 91.5% +/- 5.2% at 3 years. Freedom from all morbidity was 85.5% +/- 5.5% at 3 years. Postoperative echocardiographic studies demonstrated a good mitral valve function: (1) Eighty-seven percent of patients presented no or mild residual regurgitation; (2) transmitral flow indexes were within the norm; (3) left ventricular outflow tract flow was normal in all patients. This study shows that chordal transposition is a safe and effective technique for prolapse of anterior or both leaflets and improves the chances of repair in patients with mitral degenerative disease.     

Early and late results of partial plication annuloplasty for congenital mitral insufficiency

BACKGROUND: Partial plication annuloplasty is the main technique for congenital mitral insufficiency because this technique allows the mitral anulus to grow, in contrast to ring annuloplasty. However, this technique is not satisfactory for mitral insufficiency with some anomalies of the mitral valve apparatus. METHODS: Forty-one patients underwent partial plication annuloplasty for mitral regurgitation from July 1979 to December 1998. Mitral regurgitation associated with an atrioventricular defect, an atrioventricular discordance, and a univentricular heart was excluded from this study. RESULTS: There were no early or late deaths. In early results, partial plication annuloplasty was more effective for mitral regurgitation with abnormality of the posterior leaflet (n = 14) or normal leaflet motion (n = 8) than with abnormality of the anterior leaflet and its apparatus (n = 14) or absence of chordae (n = 4). The mean follow-up period was 145.8 months. During the follow-up period, 2 patients underwent mitral valve replacement, and a third patient underwent mitral valve repair with partial plication annuloplasty after the first repair. The main cause of mitral regurgitation of 2 of the 3 patients was absence of chordae. The actuarial freedom from reoperation rate was 94.9% +/- 3.6%, 91.9% +/- 4.7%, and 91.9% +/- 4.7% at 5, 10, and 15 years after the operation, respectively. CONCLUSION: Early and long-term results of partial plication annuloplasty were acceptable for congenital mitral insufficiency with any type of malformation of the mitral valve, and results were excellent with abnormality of the posterior leaflet and its apparatus or normal leaflet motion. However, late results were suboptimal for mitral regurgitation with absence of chordae. Other techniques, such as artificial chorda replacement, should be adapted in these cases.     

Early and late results of reconstructive operation for congenital mitral regurgitation in pediatric age group

Sixty-six children aged between 8 months and 15 years (average age 5.5 +/- 3.8 years) underwent mitral reconstructive operations for congenital mitral regurgitation between June 1969 and February 1987. The pathologic findings of the mitral valves were annular dilatation in 37 patients, cleft of the leaflet in eight, hypoplasia of the leaflet in 44, perforation of the leaflet in one, chordal elongation in 22, chordal absence in 16, and chordal shortening in seven. The methods of repair consisted of asymmetric annuloplasty (Kay-Reed method) in 61 patients, De Vega-type annuloplasty in one, plication of redundant leaflet in 15, and closure of cleft or perforation in nine. The single operative death (1.5%) was due to heart block. Follow-up data were available over 373.8 patient-years (average 5.7 years). The four late deaths (6.0%) were due to heart failure in two patients, pneumonia in one, and hepatitis in one. The actuarial survival rate was 93.1% +/- 3.1% at 7 years and 88.4% +/- 5.1% after 17 years. Valvuloplasty failed in 19 of the long-term survivors. One of these patients underwent mitral valve replacement 11 years after initial operation. The rate of freedom from reoperation was 86% +/- 10% after 17 years. The rate of freedom from valvuloplasty failure was 80% +/- 6.7% after 5 years, 67% +/- 7.2% after 10 years, and 44% +/- 11.9% after 15 years.     

Robotic mitral valve surgery: a United States multicenter trial

OBJECTIVE: In a prospective phase II Food and Drug Administration trial, robotic mitral valve repairs were performed in 112 patients at 10 centers by using the da Vinci surgical system. The safety of performing valve repairs with computerized telemanipulation was studied. METHODS: After institutional review board approval, informed consent was obtained. Patients had moderate to severe mitral regurgitation. Operative technique included peripheral cardiopulmonary bypass, a 4- to 5-cm right minithoracotomy, a transthoracic aortic crossclamp, and antegrade cardioplegia. The successful study end point was grade 0 or 1 mitral regurgitation by transthoracic echocardiography at 1 month after surgery. RESULTS: Valve repairs included quadrangular resections, sliding plasties, edge-to-edge approximations, and both chordal transfers and replacements. The average age was 56.4 +/- 0.09 years (mean +/- SEM). There were 77 (68.8%) men and 35 (31.2%) women. Valve pathology was myxomatous degeneration in 105 (91.1%), and 103 (92.0%) had type II leaflet prolapse. Leaflet repair times averaged 36.7 +/- 0.2 minutes, with annuloplasty times of 39.6 +/- 0.1 minutes. Total robot, aortic crossclamp, and cardiopulmonary bypass times were 77.9 +/- 0.3 minutes, 2.1 +/- 0.1 hours, and 2.8 +/- 0.1 hours, respectively. On 1-month transthoracic echocardiography, 9 (8.0%) had grade 2 mitral regurgitation, and 6 (5.4%) of these had reoperations (5 replacements and 1 repair). There were no deaths, strokes, or device-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple surgical teams performed robotic mitral valve repairs safely early in development of this procedure, with a reoperation rate of 5.4%. Advancements in robotic design and adjunctive technologies may help in the evolution of this minimally invasive technique by decreasing operative times.     

The rheumatic mitral valve and repair techniques in children

The mitral valve is the most commonly affected valve in acute and chronic rheumatic heart disease in the first and second decades of life. Pure or predominant mitral regurgitation with non-significant stenosis (mitral valve area > 1.5 cm(2) on echocardiography) is the most frequently encountered valvular dysfunction in children. In our experience, based on 428 children operated between 1993 and 2011 at our institution, functional classification based on leaflet motion assessed by echocardiography and reconfirmed peroperatively revealed pure annulus dilatation (type I) in 7% of patients, anterior leaflet prolapse (type IIa) in 33%, combination of anterior leaflet pseudoprolapse with restricted motion of the posterior leaflet (type pseudoIIa/IIIp) in 34%, and restricted anterior and posterior leaflet motion (type IIIa/p) in 26%. Patients with type III were older than those with type IIa and type pseudoIIa/IIIp. Different techniques can be used to repair rheumatic mitral valve lesions: prolapse of the anterior leaflet caused by chordal elongation or rupture can be treated by chordal shortening, chordal transfer, or artificial chordal replacement; restricted motion of the anterior and/or posterior leaflet can be treated by commissurotomy, splitting of the papillary muscles, resection of the secondary, or sometimes primary posterior chordae, posterior leaflet free edge suspension, leaflet thinning, and leaflet enlargement using autologous pericardium. Because mitral annulus dilatation is present in almost all patients with mitral regurgitation, concomitant ring annuloplasty offers more stability in valve repair, improving long-term outcome. The major causes for failure of rheumatic mitral valve repair are the presence of ongoing rheumatic inflammation at the time of surgery, use of inappropriate techniques, technical failures requiring early reoperation, lack of concomitant ring annuloplasty, and progression of leaflet and chordal disease further resulting in more leaflet retraction, thickening, and deformity. Freedom from reoperation depends on mitral regurgitation functional type, the type IIa and type pseudoIIa/IIIp having a better long-term outcome than type I and type III, in our series. In conclusion, mitral valve repair should be a preferred strategy in children with rheumatic heart disease whenever feasible, providing stable actuarial survival with fewer thromboembolic complications in a pediatric population noncompliant to anticoagulation.     

Mitral valve repair for anterior leaflet prolapse: surgical techniques review and 16-year follow-up results

Abstract   Objective: Mitral valve repair is now the surgical treatment of choice for mitral regurgitation. However, the repair of anterior leaflet prolapse due to chordal rupture or elongation remains a technically challenging procedure. Here, we review our experience and present the long-term results of mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation due to anterior leaflet prolapse. Methods: Between January 1988 and August 2006, 210 patients with mitral regurgitation underwent mitral valve reconstruction. We performed mitral valve repair in 49 patients with mitral regurgitation due to anterior leaflet prolapse. The preoperative degree of mitral regurgitation was moderate to severe in all patients. There were 36 patients (73.5%) with degenerative, eight (16.3%) with infective endocarditis, and five (10.2%) with rheumatic. Reconstructive techniques included chordal replacement in 13 patients, chordal shortening in 14, chordal transposition in five, chordal shortening and reinforcement with artificial chordae in four, leaflet folding plasty in six, and resection-suture in four. Results: Follow-up was complete with an average of 89 ± 59 months (range 1–201 months). In the early postoperative period, transthoracic echocardiography was performed in all patients. The grade of regurgitation was trivial (Grade I) in 17 patients (34.7%) and mild (Grade II) in seven patients (14.3%). Survival rate at 10 and 15 years was 95.2% and 88.9%, respectively. Freedom from reoperation at 10 and 15 years was 95.8% and 89.0%, respectively. Conclusions: The long-term results of mitral valve repair for anterior leaflet prolapse are satisfactory, with low mortality and morbidity. In particular, chordal replacement using temporary Alfieri stitch is a simple and effective procedure.     

Beyond the 10-Year Horizon: Mitral Valve Repair Solely With Chordal Replacement and Annuloplasty

BackgroundThe long-term outcomes of mitral valve repair by nonresection techniques, such as annuloplasty and chordal replacement, for degenerative mitral valve regurgitation were investigated.MethodsAll consecutive patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation who received solely chordal replacement and annuloplasty for mitral valve repair between 2003 and 2010 at the German Heart Center Munich were reviewed. The endpoints of this retrospective study were survival, cumulative incidence of reoperation on the mitral valve, and cumulative incidence of significant recurrent mitral regurgitation.ResultsA total of 346 patients were evaluated. The median follow-up period was 10.86 (range, 0.01-15.86) years. The 30-day mortality rate was 0.58% (n = 2 of 346), whereas the 5-year survival was 92.97% ± 1.41%. At 5 years, cumulative incidence of recurrent mitral regurgitation was 6.87% ± 1.57% and cumulative incidence of reoperation on the mitral valve was 3.69% ± 1.05%. Survival at 10 years was 83.35% ± 2.15%. At 10 years, cumulative incidence of recurrent mitral regurgitation was 13.31% ± 2.22% and cumulative incidence of reoperation was 7.84% ± 1.55%. Cox regression analysis identified age, diabetes mellitus, and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction <55% as independent risk factors for death. Left ventricular ejection fraction <55% was revealed as independent risk factor for significant recurrent mitral regurgitation.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated excellent long-term outcomes with low incidence of reoperation after mitral valve repair using chordal replacement in a highly selected patient cohort. Our findings emphasized the importance of early intervention in severe degenerative mitral regurgitation, especially in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.     

Repair of anterior leaflet mitral valve prolapse: chordal replacement versus chordal shortening

BACKGROUND: To determine the optimal method of repair for severe, segmental anterior leaflet prolapse, we analyzed outcome of 121 patients who underwent chordal shortening (n = 46) and chordal replacement (n = 75) from 1988 to 1996. METHODS: Chordae were replaced with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures. Patients had an annuloplasty with either chordal replacement or shortening. Follow-up was 100% complete (mean, 3.7 years). RESULTS: Mean age was 62.1 years, 86 were men, and 60 patients had isolated valve repair. There was one hospital death and 14 late deaths for a 5-year actuarial survival of 86.4%+/-4.5%. Sixteen patients underwent reoperation, 5 in the replacement group and 11 in the shortening group. Mechanism of valve failure in the replacement group was native chordae rupture (n = 4) and neochordae dehiscence (n = 1). With chordal shortening, repair failure was attributed to rupture of shortened chordae (n = 8), leaflet prolapse with and without annuloplasty ring dehiscence (n = 2), and native chordae elongation (n = 1). Risk of reoperation because of repair failure at 3.5 years was 1.4% in the chordal replacement group and 14.8% in the chordal shortening group (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Chordal replacement is superior to chordal shortening, providing a predictable method for correction of mitral regurgitation with a low incidence of reoperation.