Surgical repair of mitral valve prolapse through a minimal right vertical infraaxillary thoracotomy

Abstract Background: Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery has been proven a safe and cosmetic alternative to the conventional median sternotomy approach. The aim of this study is to retrospectively evaluate the clinical outcome of mitral valve repair for leaflet prolapse through a minimal right vertical infraaxillary thoracotomy (RVIAT). Methods: From January 2003 to December 2011, 68 patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) due to leaflet prolapse underwent mitral valve repair through a RVIAT approach. There were 37 males and 31 females. The mean age of the patients was 37.8 ± 10.5 years. Of the 68 patients, 45 had posterior leaflet prolapse and 23 had anterior leaflet prolapse. Results: The mean incision length was 7.3 ± 1.8 cm (range 5.5 to 10.0 cm). Mitral valve repair technique included quadrangular resection with or without sliding repair (40 cases), edge to edge technique (six cases), artificial chordae (18 cases), chordal transfer (four cases), and ring annuloplasty was performed in all 68 patients. There was no severe morbidity and operative mortality. Echocardiography after operation demonstrated absence or trivial mitral regurgitation in 52 patients and mild regurgitation in 16 patients. During the 3 months ～8 years' follow-up period, one patient (1.5%) underwent mitral valve replacement through the median sternotomy due to recurrent severe MR. Other patients were in good condition. Conclusion: Surgical repair of mitral valve prolapse can be successfully performed through the RVIAT approach achieving excellent cosmetic and clinical results. (J Card Surg 2012;27:533-537).     

Anterior mitral leaflet prolapse as a primary cause of pure rheumatic mitral insufficiency

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to revise the mechanisms and repair techniques of anterior mitral leaflet prolapse observed during the correction of pure rheumatic mitral regurgitation in children. METHODS: From March 1993 to May 1998, 36 children suffering from pure rheumatic mitral regurgitation due to anterior leaflet prolapse underwent mitral valve repair. The mean age was 12.5 years (range, 6 to 16 years). Anterior leaflet prolapse was due to chordal elongation in 25 patients (group A), chordal rupture in 6 patients (group B), and retraction of anterior secondary chordae tendineae, creating a V-shaped deformity in the middle of the anterior leaflet, thus moving the free edge of the anterior leaflet away from the coaptation plane, in 5 patients (group C). Chordal shortening, transposition, and resection of anterior secondary chordae tendineae were used to correct anterior leaflet prolapse according to the predominantly responsible mechanism. RESULTS: All patients were available for clinical follow-up, which ranged from 6 months to 5 years (mean follow-up, 3 years). Echocardiographic studies were obtained until the 3rd postoperative month, and all patients showed significant improvement in their left ventricular and atrial dimensions. There was one late death related to endocarditis. Two patients in group C who had mitral valve repair underwent mitral valve replacement on the 19th and 24th postoperative months, respectively, because of failure of mitral valve repair. CONCLUSIONS: Mitral valve repair for pure mitral regurgitation due to rheumatic anterior leaflet prolapse can be performed safely for all types of mechanisms. Although the techniques we used provide stable short-term results in each of these groups, midterm results are better in groups A and B, where tissue thickening is less important, recurrences of rheumatic carditis are lower, and the interval between the first rheumatic attack and the surgical procedure is shorter than in group C.     

Reconstruction of a friable posterior mitral annulus after removing a calcified artificial ring using flipover technique of the anterior mitral leaflet

We report a new technique for reinforcement of a friable posterior mitral annulus using the anterior leaflet after removing a calcified artificial ring. A 72-year-old woman underwent mitral valve replacement for mitral stenosis and recurrence of regurgitation after mitral valve repair at 53 years of age. She had been on chronic hemodialysis for 20 years. The posterior mitral annulus became highly friable after débridement of the calcified artificial ring. The anterior mitral leaflet was detached from its annulus and transferred to the posterior annulus to cover the defect. The anterior leaflet was anchored to the posterior annulus by valve sutures, and mitral valve replacement was performed successfully. Postoperative ultrasonic cardiography revealed preservation of left ventricular function with no perivalvular leakage.     

Leaflet folding plasty for mitral valve repair

Objectives: Leaflet folding plasty was introduced for avoiding systolic anterior motion and coronary artery injury after mitral valve repair. We report the application and early outcome of this technique for mitral valve regurgitation. Methods: From January 1997 to January 2004,16 patients with mitral valve regurgitation were operated on using leaflet folding plasty. The group comprised 9 men and 7 women, with a mean age of 61.6 years. There were 15 patients with degenerative and 1 with ischemic mitral valve disease. The causes of mitral regurgitation were posterior mitral leaflet prolapse in 11 patients and commissural prolapse in 5 patients. Results: Mitral valve reconstruction could be performed in all patients. There were no perioperative deaths. Postoperative mitral regurgitation fell to 0.13±0.52 compared with 3.6±0.51 preoperatively. Systolic anterior leaflet motion was not observed in any patients after the procedure. The mean follow-up period was 22 months. There were no late deaths and reoperation was not required during follow-up. Conclusions: Early outcome of leaflet folding plasty for mitral valve repair was satisfactory. This technique may have advantages to accomplish mitral valve repair safely in patients with mitral regurgitation due to posterior or commissural prolapse.     

改良腱索转移法治疗二尖瓣前叶脱垂(附16例临床分析)

目的 介绍一种操作简单、效果可靠的矫治二尖瓣前叶脱垂的手术方法.方法 2002年1月至2008年5月,应用"缘对缘"技术基础上的腱索转移法治疗二尖瓣前叶脱垂共16例,其中腱索断裂12例,腱索延长4例.超声心动图均显示二尖瓣前叶脱垂致重度关闭不全,平均反流面积(14.76±3.28)cm2,左心室射血分数33%～69%.按照NYNA分级,术前心功能Ⅲ级5例,Ⅳ级11例.手术首先行脱垂部位前瓣与相应部位后瓣的"缘对缘"缝合,矩形切下缝合处的后瓣,连同相应的腱索、乳头肌,转移至前瓣.再行后瓣成形,完成瓣膜成形手术.所有病人出院前和随访时再次行超声心动图检查.结果 手术无死亡,除1例因为术后第3天出现二尖瓣前叶穿孔再次行二尖瓣置换手术外,其余15例手术病人均顺利康复出院.术后远期随访无死亡,心功能全部恢复至Ⅰ级.复查超声心动图二尖瓣瓣口面积3.3-4.8 cm2,平均(3.78±0.52)cm2,均无明显反流,反流面积(0.45±0.22)cm2,左房、左室明显缩小[(左房径:术前(48.26±11.12),mm,术后(37.57±9.56)mm,P=0.028;左窜舒张末径术前(61.43±8.24)mm,术后(42.35±10.79)mm,P=O.008].结论 "缘对缘"技术基础上的腱索转移法治疗二尖瓣前叶脱垂,操作简单,可以取得良好的成形效果.     

Treatment of ruptured or elongated anterior mitral valve chordae by partial transposition of the posterior leaflet: experience with 29 patients

We report a series of 29 patients, 5 to 75 years of age (mean age, 31.8 +/- 21.4 [SD] years), with pure mitral regurgitation caused by ruptured or elongated chordae of the anterior mitral leaflet. These patients underwent mitral valve repair by segmental transposition of the posterior leaflet with its attached chordae sutured to the free edge of the flail anterior leaflet. There were 2 hospital deaths. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 35 months (mean follow-up, 14.9 +/- 8.5 months). One patient is lost to follow-up. Two patients are in New York Heart Association Functional Class II; all others are in Class I. In 17 patients there is no detectable murmur; in 5 patients a mild to moderate systolic murmur can be detected, while 4 have a marked systolic murmur. The adequacy of the repair could be confirmed by Doppler echocardiography, which has shown no evidence of prolapse in 22 patients. A mild regurgitation jet is present in 4 patients, and a marked jet, in 3. Postoperative cardiac catheterization performed in 5 patients has confirmed the Doppler echocardiographic findings. Although longer follow-up is necessary, this technique appears adequate for repairing a major prolapse of the anterior leaflet caused by multiple ruptured or elongated chordae, therefore obviating the need for a prosthetic valve substitute.     

Repair of anterior leaflet prolapse by papillary muscle repositioning: a new surgical option

BACKGROUND: Although mitral valve repair is considered the gold standard for treating mitral regurgitation, anterior leaflet prolapse may still remain a challenging problem. This challenge is even greater for posterior commissural prolapse. We have used papillary muscle repositioning to treat anterior leaflet prolapse and suggest it as an alternative technique for all other methods previously described. METHODS: From 1989 to 1999 we performed 253 mitral valve repairs, among which 132 involved anterior leaflet prolapse. In this population there were two groups: group I (n = 92) treated with papillary muscle repositioning and group II (n = 40) treated with chordal shortening. There was no statistical difference between the two groups concerning age, functional class, and left ventricular function. Etiology was similar in both groups, a degenerative process being predominant. At echocardiography, regurgitation was graded 3.4/4 in both groups. There was no statistical difference concerning preoperative ejection fraction, end-systolic and end-diastolic left ventricular diameter. RESULTS: There were one in-hospital death in group I and two deaths in group II not related to mitral valve repair. Mean follow up is 36.4 +/- 29.2 months in group I and 70.5 +/- 9.5 months in group II. No patient was lost to follow-up. Mean regurgitation at follow-up was 0.75 +/- 0.67 in group I and 0.8 +/- 0.8 in group II (p = not significant). There was no statistical difference between the two groups concerning postoperative ejection fraction, end-systolic and end-diastolic left ventricular diameter. There was no late cardiac death in either group and there were no thromboembolic events. Actuarial survival rate is 98.9% and 96.3% in group I and 92.5% and 88.1% in group II at 3 and 8 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, we conclude that papillary muscle repositioning is a safe technique that provides excellent results at mid-term follow-up and facilitates treatment of anterior leaflet prolapse.     

Systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve despite the sliding leaflet technique for repair of the mitral valve

We report a systolic anterior motion of the anterior mitral leaflet despite employing the sliding leaflet technique for repair of mitral valve regurgitation. A 65-year-old man with chronic, symptomatic mitral regurgitation due to ruptured chordae tendineae underwent mitral valve repair by quadrangular resection of the posterior leaflet and sliding leaflet technique with ring annuloplasty. After weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, left ventricular outflow obstruction developed and transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve and severe mitral regurgitation. Non-operative treatment resolved the outflow tract obstruction, systolic anterior motion and mitral regurgitation. We conclude that post-repair systolic anterior motion can still occur after the sliding plasty procedure and that medical treatment can successfully resolve systolic anterior motion and outflow tract obstruction in most patients.     

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.     

Mitral valve plasty for acute infective endocarditis; report of a case

A 68-year-old woman was admitted with congestive heart failure and septic shock associated with suspected mitral valve acute infective endocarditis. Echocardiography revealed vegetations attached to both mitral leaflets, prolapse of the posterior mitral leaflet and severe mitral regurgitation. Emergent surgery was performed. The anterior mitral leaflet displayed multiple vegetations. The entire anterior leaflet of mitral valve was replaced with pericardium. The posterior mitral leaflet of the middle scallop was prolapsed with an attached vegetation. Quadrangular resection was performed. A commissural reconstruction by sliding commissuroplasty for a prolapse of both anterior and posterior leaflets in the paracommissural area and autologous pericardial mitral annuloplasty was performed. Mitral regurgitation disappeared postoperatively, and the patient is now doing well as of 5 years postoperatively.     

Mital valve regurgitation with anterior mitral leaflet chordal rupture or elongation —Repair using the flip over technique—

Repair of prolapsed anterior mitral leaflet has remained technically difficult. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical results after using the flip-over technique for patients with anterior mitral leaflet prolapse due to dhordal rupture or elongation. Between January 1993 and September 1997, fifteen adult patients with pure mitral valve regurgitation (MR) due to prolapse of the anterior mitral leaflet underwent repair using the flip-over technique. The indication for this procedure were; 1) all mitral structures except the prolapsed area must appear to be intact, and 2) the corresponding chordae attached to the posterior leaflet should be sufficiently strong to be transferred to the anterior leaflet. The prognoses following this technique were retrospectively studied to assess the early and mid-term clinical outcome of this procedure. Follow up was complete in all patients and ranged from 2 to 56 months (with a mean of 25 ± 17.9 months). There was no hospital death, None required reoperation. One patient died because of acute recurrent MR during follow-up. No other complication was experienced. Doppler echocardiographic studies at the final follow-up showed less than mild regurgitation in 11 (78.6%) of the 14 surviving patients. We believe that this procedure was effective for that the obtained repair of a prolapsed anterior mitral valve and early and mid-term clinical outcome from this procedure has been satisfactory.     

The double-orifice technique in mitral valve repair: a simple solution for complex problems

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to report our results with the central double-orifice technique used for the treatment of complex mitral valve lesions. METHODS: The central double-orifice repair has been used in 260 patients (mean age, 56 +/- 14.3 years) over a period of 7 years. The mechanism responsible for mitral regurgitation was prolapse of both leaflets in 148 patients, prolapse of the anterior leaflet in 68, prolapse of the posterior leaflet with annular calcification or other unfavorable features in 31, and lack of leaflet coaptation for restricted motion or erosion of the free edge in 13. Degenerative disease was the cause of mitral regurgitation in 80.8% of the patients, rheumatic disease was the cause in 9.6%, endocarditis was the cause in 6.1%, and ischemic disease was the cause in 2.3%. RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 0.7%, and the overall survival at 5 years was 94.4% +/- 2.59%. Thirteen patients required a reoperation (2 early postoperatively and 11 late during the follow-up), for an overall freedom from reoperation of 90.0% +/- 3.37% at 5 years. Freedom from reoperation was lower in patients with rheumatic valve disease and in patients who did not undergo an annuloplasty procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness and durability of the central double-orifice technique were assessed in this study. This type of repair can be a useful addition to the surgical armamentarium in mitral valve reconstruction.     

Case of systolic anterior motion of mitral valve after mitral valve repair

A 56-year-old woman was underwent mitral valve repair for prolapse of the posterior mitral leaflet. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) showed systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral valve at the weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Sliding technique was easily performed at the second pump run. Intraoperative TEE demonstrated no SAM or residual mitral regurgitation after the second pump run.     

Surgical Application for a Prolapse of the Anterior Mitral Leaflet by Replacing Artificial Chordae with Polytetrafluoroethylene Grafts

Purpose There are an increasing number of reports concerning mitral valve repair by a reconstruction of the chordae tendinae using expanded polytetrafluoro-ethylene (PTFE) sutures. However, little information is available about extended application or results of this technique for an extended prolapse of the anterior mitral leaflets.Methods Between July 1991 and August 2003, 28 patients with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation as a result of a prolapse of anterior leaflets (age range, 15–73 years) underwent mitral valve repair by reconstruction of the artificial chordae with 4-CV expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures without a leaflet resection. Either Kay’s suture technique or ring annuloplasty was also performed to correct annular dilatation in all patients.Results No operative death or late mortality was observed. The prolapsed segment, which was successfully repaired, was within 33% of the anterior mitral leaflet (AML) in 6 patients, from 33% to 50% in 5, from 50% to 99% in 11, and 100% in 6 patients. Before discharge, immediate postoperative echocardiography showed less than moderate mitral regurgitation in 28 of 28 patients. The follow-up, consisting of a clinical examination and serial echocardiograms, was complete in all cases and the mean follow-up period was 80.6 months (range, 12–146). There were two failures that required a reoperation because of a worsening mitral regurgitation and hemolytic anemia (elongation of anchored side of papillary muscle). The other two patients required mitral valve replacement due to a progressive regression of the left ventricular function, although the regurgitation worsened from a mild level to a moderate one. When the reoperated patients were excluded from the following data, the degree of mitral regurgitation, estimated by echocardiography performed at recent follow-up period, was none in 10 patients, trivial in 13 patients, and mild in 1 patient. In addition, the systolic and diastolic dimensions of the left ventricle decreased significantly (P < 0.01).Conclusions The replacement of artificial chordae was not complicated and it seemed to help to preserve a good relationship among leaflet tissues, chordae, and papillary muscles. We therefore suggest that the extensive use of PTFE artificial chordae appears to be a promising procedure for the repair of all kinds of mitral lesions causing mitral regurgitation.     

Transposition of posterior leaflet for treatment of ruptured main chordae of the anterior mitral leaflet

A 13-year-old girl with mitral regurgitation resulting from rupture of multiple chordae of the anterior leaflet had repair by transposition of a part of the posterior leaflet to the free edge of the anterior mitral cusp. Postoperative clinical hemodynamic, and angiographic studies showed perfect function of the mitral valve. This technique seems to be a good solution for mitral repair in the presence of ruptured anterior mitral chordae.     

Early and late results of mitral valve repair for mitral valve regurgitation. Significant risk factors of reoperation

BACKGROUND: Mitral valve repair for mitral valve regurgitation has many advantages over mitral valve replacement. However, durability and reoperation after mitral valve repair still remain major problems. We examined the outcome of mitral valve repair for mitral valve regurgitation and analyzed several pre- and intraoperative potential risk factors to determine the significant risk factors of reoperation. METHODS: From February 1981 to November 1996, 86 patients underwent mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation or combined mitral regurgitation and stenosis. The mean age was 53 years, and 88.4% were New York Heart Association class III or IV. The causes of mitral valve disease were degenerative disease in 53 patients, rheumatic disease in 15, infective endocarditis in 11, and ischemic disease in 7. There were 2 early and 8 late deaths. RESULTS: Actuarial overall survival including early death at 10 years was 83.2+/-6.1%, freedom from reoperation was 86.8+/-5.3%, freedom from thromboembolism was 90.9+/-6.2%, and freedom from infective endocarditis was 98.5+/-1.5%. There was no bleeding event. At the last follow-up, most patients were in New York Heart Association class I or II. Prolapse of anterior leaflet and rheumatic mitral regurgitation were identified as independent predictors for reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: The repair techniques for anterior leaflet prolapse and patient selection in rheumatic mitral disease are important for improving long-term results of mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation.     

Neochordal repair of a double orifice mitral valve

Native double-orifice mitral valve is an exceedingly rare valvular abnormality. A 77-year-old patient was referred for a severe mitral regurgitation, and a double-orifice mitral valve with a central fibrous bridge was unexpectedly found. A flail anterior leaflet with 2 ruptured chordae was observed on the anterolateral mitral valve orifice, the leaflets on the posterior valve orifice were normally thin. Mitral valve repair was successfully performed with replacement of the 2 torn chordae by two 4/0 expanded polytetrafluoroethylene neochordae. We accordingly suggest that current mitral valve repair techniques remained a valuable option, even on central bridge double-orifice mitral valve regurgitation.     

Chordal plication and free edge remodeling for mitral anterior leaflet prolapse repair: 8-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Chordal suture plication and free edge remodeling represent a personal technique for the repair of anterior leaflet prolapse. We report the results of an 8-year experience. METHODS: Sixty-one patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation caused by prolapse of the anterior leaflet (11) or both leaflets (50) underwent anterior leaflet prolapse repair. Twenty patients who had associated cardiac procedures are included. RESULTS: There were two perioperative deaths. Postoperative mitral regurgitation fell to 0.4 +/- 0.7 versus 3.7 +/- 0.4 preoperative (p < 0.0001). Mean follow-up was 40.5 months. There were 3 late deaths and 3 mitral reoperations (1 of 3 repairs, 2 of 3 replacements). Thromboembolism and endocarditis occurred in 1 patient each. Actuarial overall survival, freedom from cardiac death, and freedom from mitral reoperation at 92 months were 85.1% +/- 7.9%, 88.9% +/- 7.7%, and 94.6% +/- 3.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our technique of anterior leaflet prolapse repair appears effective, safe, and durable at mid- to long-term follow-up, and may be used in the presence of extensive disease of both leaflets.     

Chordal transfer for repair of anterior leaflet prolapse

A variety of techniques have been developed for repair of prolapse of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve. At The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, we favor chordal transfer for this entity. In most instances, normal chordae with a strip of leaflet tissue are transferred from the posterior leaflet to the free edge of the unsupported anterior leaflet; the posterior leaflet is repaired in standard fashion employed for quadrangular resection. In selected cases, chordal transfer is accomplished by transfer of secondary anterior leaflet chordae to the unsupported free edge. Because normal chordae are used in both instances, there is no need for measurement of chordae or judgment of their length. With this technique for correction of anterior leaflet prolapse, 5-year freedom from reoperation after mitral valve repair is 96%.     

Surgical repair for ischemic mitral regurgitation: a method of mitral valve plasty with evaluation of morphological changes of mitral valve]

We evaluated a method of mitral valve plasty (MVP) for ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) by examining the morphological changes of the mitral valve. From November 1992 to May 1998, 8 patients (M : F = 4/4, age 44-79 years, mean age 65.1 years) with IMR underwent surgical repair. Preoperative mitral regurgitation (MR) was grade III of Sellers classification in 7 patients and grade IV in 1 patient. The cause of MR was mitral valve annular dilatation in 4 patients, mitral valve prolapse due to papillary muscle elongation in 2 patients, and partial papillary muscle rupture (PMR) in 2 patients. Cardiac surgery consisted of CABG + MVP in 7 patients and MVP in 1 patient. Mitral valve repair was separated into three types. Repair for annular dilatation consisted of commissuroplasty in 3 patients (2 patients Kay method, 1 patient Reed method) and ring annuloplasty using a Carpentier-Edwards ring (C-E ring) in 1 patient. Repair for papillary muscle elongation consisted of papillary muscle shortening and ring annuloplasty using a C-E ring. Repair for partial PMR consisted of papillary muscle implantation and ring annuloplasty for anterior leaflet prolapse in 1 patient, and quadrangular resection, posterior leaflet plasty (McGoon method) and ring annuloplasty in 1 patient. There was no hospital death. Postoperative outcome was 6 patients with no MR and 2 patients with grade II MR, but they were well-controlled with medication. Based on the morphological changes of the mitral valve, it is considered that MVP for IMR is an effective and recommended procedure.