Mitral valve repair and the anterior leaflet

Mitral valve repair with annuloplasty has become a widely accepted technique for correction of posterior leaflet mitral valve pathology. Advantages over mitral valve replacement include improved hemodynamic performance and improved ventricular function. Although repairs of the anterior leaflet met with less success initially, recent reports have emphasized the safety and effectiveness of chordal shortening, chordal transposition, and chordal replacement in treating disease of the anterior leaflet. Isolated annuloplasty and creation of double orifice mitral valves show promise for the treatment of mitral insufficiency in conjunction with heart failure and with other complex surgical procedures.     

Repair of a dysplastic tricuspid valve using artificial chordae: case report

Atrioventricular valve repair with artificial chordal replacement has been widely used for congenital and acquired mitral valve abnormalities, but not for tricuspid valve abnormalities. A case is presented of dysplastic tricuspid valve that was successfully repaired using artificial chordae. A 2-year-old female presented with poor weight gain. Echocardiography revealed severe tricuspid regurgitation due to dysplastic tricuspid valve, poor coaptation by prolapse of the anterior leaflet, and tethering of the septal leaflet by short chordae. The prolapsed anterior leaflet was repaired with three pairs of 6-0 expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures. The short chordae of the septal leaflet were detached, and the septal and posterior leaflets were sutured together. Trivial tricuspid regurgitation was noted postoperatively. There was no tricuspid regurgitation during the follow up period of three years. The present case provides further evidence that artificial chordal replacement is a useful technique even for small children with congenitally abnormal tricuspid valves.     

Anterior leaflet procedures during mitral valve repair do not adversely influence long-term outcome

Objectives. This study was done to assess the impact of anterior mitral leaflet reconstructive procedures on initial and long-term results of mitral valve repair.Background. It has been suggested that involvement of the anterior leaflet in mitral valve disease adversely affects the long-term outcome of mitral valve repair. Our policy has been to aggressively repair such anterior leaflets with procedures that include triangular resections in some cases.Methods. From June 1979 through June 1993, 558 consecutive Carpentier-type mitral valve repairs were performed. The anterior mitral leaflet and chordae tendineae were repaired in 156 patients (mean age 58 years). The procedures included anterior chordal shortening in 78 patients (50%), anterior leaflet resections in 44 (28%), resuspension of the anterior leaflet to secondary chordae in 42 (27%) and anterior chordal transposition in 27 (17%). Concomitant cardiac surgical procedures were performed in 75 patients (48%).Results. The operative mortality rate was 2.5% (2 of 81) for isolated mitral valve anterior leaflet repair and 3.8% (6 of 156) for all mitral valve anterior leaflet repair. Freedom from reoperation at 5 and 10 years was, respectively, 89.7% (n = 160) and 83.4% (n = 24) for the entire series of 558 patients, 91.9% (n = 51) and 81.2% (n = 10) for patients with anterior leaflet procedures, 88.8% (n = 109) and 84.4% (n = 14) for patients without anterior leaflet procedures and 91.7% (n = 118) and 88.9% (n = 18) for patients without rheumatic disease. Logistic regression showed that rheumatic origin of disease (odds ratio 2.99), but not anterior leaflet repair, increased the risk for reoperation.Conclusions. These results demonstrate that expansion of mitral valve techniques to include anterior leaflet disease yields immediate and long-term results equal to those seen in patients with posterior leaflet disease.     

Mitral valve repair for degenerative disease

Degenerative mitral valve disease is the most common cause of mitral regurgitation in North America. Using techniques developed by Carpentier and others, up to 90% of degenerative mitral valves can be repaired. These valves are characterized by annular dilatation and chordal rupture or elongation; chordal changes are mainly localized to the posterior leaflet. The most common repair technique for posterior leaflet prolapse is quadrangular resection. When the leaflet is >1.5 cm long, a sliding repair is added to reduce the risk of systolic anterior motion. Anterior leaflet prolapse is usually treated by transfer of chords from the posterior leaflet or adjacent areas of the anterior leaflet. Other useful techniques for correction of anterior leaflet prolapse are creation of artificial chords and the Alfieri edge-to-edge repair. Chordal shortening is rarely employed as it jeopardizes repair durability. Annuloplasty accompanies all repairs. A posterior annuloplasty provides results equivalent to those obtained with a circumferential annuloplasty. Flexible annuloplasty has theoretical advantages, but clinical benefits have not been shown. After mitral valve repair for degenerative disease, 10-year freedom from reoperation is 93%. Risk of reoperation is increased by anterior leaflet prolapse, chordal shortening, failure to use an annuloplasty, and lack of intraoperative echocardiography. In the ideal situation, when posterior leaflet resection is corrected by quadrangular resection with annuloplasty and the result is confirmed by intraoperative echocardiography, the 10-year durability is 98%.     

Mitral valve prolapse: an atypical variation of the anatomy

BACKGROUND: The mitral valve apparatus is a complex structure composed of an annulus, mitral leaflets, chordae tendinae, papillary muscles and left ventricular, atrial and aortic walls. Deficiency or degeneration of one or more of these structures may result in dysfunction of the valvular apparatus leading to mitral valve prolapse during systole. OBJECTIVE: To review the chordal attachment of surgically resected mitral valve tissue from cases of mitral valve incompetence. METHODS: The clinical and morphological features of 135 surgically resected posterior mitral valve leaflet specimens were reviewed for mitral valve prolapse from January 1999 to June 1999. Four mitral leaflets removed either surgically or at autopsy served as controls. RESULTS: Excised posterior mitral leaflets from two patients had segments containing free margin and rough zone chordae that lacked attachment to larger 'strut' or 'stem' chordae or to either papillary muscle. These chordae were observed in otherwise normal mitral valves with adjacent areas that had normal chordal arrangements. Such chordae of the posterior leaflet were termed 'atypical chordae tendinae'. There was no good gross or histological evidence of chordal rupture, and this atypical arrangement appears to be congenital in origin. Grossly and histologically, these atypical variants otherwise exhibited characteristics similar to those of leaflet tissue from typical cases of mitral valve prolapse, with shiny, grey-white and "edematous" tissue that contained increased mucopolysaccharides in the zona spongiosa and chordae tendinae. CONCLUSIONS: This review found atypical attachment of mitral valve chordae tendinae such that isolated segments of the posterior leaflet congenitally lack chordal support, likely leading to mitral valve prolapse. Review of the literature suggests that this is a heretofore unreported cause of mitral valve incompetence.     

Mitral valve repair for severe mitral regurgitation caused by endomyocardial biopsy

Mitral regurgitation (MR) following endomyocardial biopsy is a rare and severe complication. A 70-year-old man with severe MR due to chordal injury caused by left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy is described. In this patient, a few chordae tendineae of the posterior-median papillary muscle were injured by the biopsy forceps. Due to the chordal rupture, both anterior and posterior leaflets were prolapsed and severe MR developed. MR was successfully treated by artificial chordal replacement using extended polytetrafluoroethylene sutures and ring annuloplasty. This mitral valve repair with artificial chordal replacement was considered suitable to treat MR resulting from iatrogenic chordal injury as the leaflets were not involved in the degenerative process and papillary muscle function was preserved. To avoid MR, the transvenous approach should be used routinely for endomyocardial biopsies; biopsy from the left ventricle is not justified.     

Role of chordae tendineae in mitral valve opening: two-dimensional echocardiographic evidence

Study of 16 normal and 33 flail mitral valves provides evidence of the active participation of chordae tendineae in mitral valve opening. The normal valves have straight chordae at all phases of opening. During isovolumic relaxation and progressive opening phases, the smooth configuration of the mid-anterior mitral leaflet is broken by a sharp outward "tenting." This tenting is localized at chordal insertions, reflecting significant tension at these points. Flail mitral valves allow comparison of opening motion between mitral segments with normal chordal attachment and flail segments without chordal support. Posterior flail leaflets demonstrate delay in initiation of opening motion relative to the normal anterior leaflet. The most dramatic examples of this delay reveal a maximal opening excursion of the anterior leaflet before the flail posterior leaflet initiates opening motion. The untethered free margins of opening flail anterior leaflets produce the appearance of the flail segment trailing the body of the anterior leaflet with a sharp break in leaflet contour between the supported and unsupported segments. These configurational expressions of mitral valve opening are inconsistent with a passive hemogenic mechanism. They support an active myogenic process mediated through direct traction on the valve by the chordae tendineae.     

Transesophageal echocardiography as predictor of mitral valve repair

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Mitral valve repair has recently emerged as the treatment of choice in patients presenting with insufficiency due to valve prolapse. The study aims were to evaluate: (i) the clinical presentation in a consecutive series of patients with mitral valve prolapse undergoing surgical repair; (ii) the correlation between pre- and intraoperative echocardiographic features and surgical findings in these patients; and (iii) whether clinical and echocardiographic data may predict surgical outcome. METHODS: Between March 1997 and May 2000, 152 patients (110 men, 42 women; mean age 59+/-13 years) were recruited into the study. All patients had myxomatous mitral valve disease causing severe regurgitation and underwent systematic examination by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for clear delineation of the three scallops of the posterior leaflet and juxtaposed segments of the anterior leaflet. RESULTS: In 119 patients (78%) a flail valve was documented by TEE and confirmed on surgical inspection; an anterior leaflet chordal rupture was not visualized by TEE in one case. In 15 cases (10%) there was flail of the anterior leaflet, and in 105 cases (69%) flail of the posterior leaflet. A bileaflet complex prolapse without chordal rupture was found in 32 cases. On the basis of TEE evaluation, mitral valve replacement was performed electively in 10 patients (7%); the other 142 (93%) underwent mitral valve repair. Adequate repair was obtained in 93% of cases; residual mitral regurgitation (eight cases; grade 3+) and mitral stenosis (one case) were documented by intraoperative TEE, and nine patients (6%) underwent valve replacement. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients with myxomatous mitral valve prolapse and severe regurgitation undergoing valve repair have chordal rupture of the posterior mitral leaflet, a condition in which results of valve repair are excellent. TEE provides a powerful means to define the mechanisms of mitral regurgitation and to identify the suitability of patients for valvuloplasty.     

Clinical,echocardiographic, and biomechanical differences in mitral valve prolapse affecting one or both leaflets

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is the most common cause of severe mitral regurgitation necessitating surgical correction. Unileaflet prolapse (ULP), usually involving the posterior leaflet, is more common than bileaflet prolapse (BLP), which is more difficult to repair. Little is known about clinical, echocardiographic, and biomechanical differences between ULP and BLP. In this study, biomechanical testing was performed on mitral valve leaflets and chordae obtained at operation for severe mitral regurgitation. Preoperative clinical characteristics and echocardiographic measurements were obtained on surgical patients (ULP = 88, BLP = 37). Men outnumbered women by a factor of 4:1 in ULP, and by 3:1 in BLP. Patients with BLP were younger (53.2 ± 1.7 vs 59.5 ± 1.1 years) than those with ULP, and this difference was greater in women (48.9 ± 2.5 vs 62.9 ± 2.2 years). BLP patients were less likely to be hypertensive, and more likely to undergo valve replacement rather than repair. Echocardiography showed that BLP leaflets were longer and thicker than ULP leaflets. The severity of mitral regurgitation was similar in both groups, although ULP patients had a much higher incidence of flail leaflets (45% vs 5% in BLP). Mechanical strength of chordae was greater in BLP than in ULP, although leaflet strength was similar. The increased chordal strength in BLP may be responsible for less flail. In patients with MVP and severe mitral regurgitation requiring surgery, ULP and BLP are distinct entities with substantial differences in the population affected, in echocardiographic manifestations including prevalence of flail, in chordal mechanics, and in the likelihood of surgical repair.     

Geometric distribution of chordae tendineae: an important anatomic feature in mitral valve function

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: This study examined the geometric distribution of chordae tendineae and their importance in compensating for papillary muscle (PM) displacement. METHODS: Anatomic, chordal mechanics and hemodynamic measurements were performed with porcine mitral valves. For hemodynamic measurements, physiological pulsatile flow conditions were maintained, and PM positions varied. Leaflet coaptation was documented by 2-D echocardiography, and regurgitation measured directly. RESULTS: Anatomic measurements showed the sum of marginal leaflet and marginal chordal lengths to exceed basal chordal length (1.8+/-0.4 versus 2.8+/-0.7 cm for anterior leaflets; 1.6+/-0.3 versus 2.5+/-0.6 cm for posterior leaflets). Triangular structures existed between basal chordae and marginal chordae with the marginal leaflet as the third side. Basal chordae resisted apical PM displacement in static experiments, while marginal chordae governed leaflet closure in hemodynamic experiments. Under pulsatile flow conditions, apical PM displacement decreased leaflet coaptation length and increased regurgitation (9.4+/-2.1 versus 4.0+/-1.6 ml). When marginal chordae were fused to the basal chordae, eliminating the role of the marginal chordae, severe regurgitation resulted (28.5+/-5.0 ml with apical PM displacement). CONCLUSION: Based on triangular structures involving the basal and marginal chordae, a compensatory mechanism was described which explains how the severity of mitral regurgitation can vary following PM displacement. Basal chordae provide a constant connection between the annulus and papillary muscles, while marginal chordae maintain marginal leaflet flexibility, governing proper valve closure. This study relates chordal distribution to normal valve function, and provides a better understanding of breakdown in valve function under pathophysiological conditions.     

Comparison of accuracy of transesophageal versus transthoracic echocardiography for the detection of mitral valve prolapse with ruptured chordae tendineae (flail mitral leaflet)

The accuracy of transesophageal echocardiography was compared with that of transthoracic echocardiography in the detection of ruptured chordae tendineae (flail mitral leaflet) in 27 patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) who underwent valve repair or replacement for mitral regurgitation. Confirmation of the presence of ruptured chordae resulting in a flail leaflet was available at surgery in all cases. The echocardiographic studies were read blindly by 2 independent observers with any differences resolved by a third. Mean (+/- standard deviation) age was 63 +/- 13 years. Men (n = 20) outnumbered women (n = 7) (p less than 0.02), and tended to be younger (p = 0.06). Flail leaflets were identified in 20 of 27 patients. In 1 patient, both leaflets were involved and in the remaining 19 patients posterior leaflets (15 patients) were more frequently affected than anterior leaflets (4 patients). Transesophageal echocardiography correctly identified all 20 patients with flail leaflets, but 1 false positive study occurred among the 7 patients without a flail leaflet. In contrast, transthoracic echocardiography identified only 12 of 20 patients with flail leaflets, with no false positive studies. Transesophageal echocardiography was more accurate, correctly classifying 26 of 27 (96%) cases versus 19 of 27 (70%) by the transthoracic approach (p less than 0.01). This study suggests a higher incidence of chordal rupture to the posterior leaflet in patients with MVP and demonstrates improved accuracy of transesophageal over transthoracic echocardiography in the detection of flail leaflets.     

二尖瓣成形治疗小儿二尖瓣关闭不全

目的 总结小儿二尖瓣关闭不全外科矫治经验。方法 回顾近12年我院收治75例小儿二尖瓣关闭不全患,其中男31例,女44例,年龄1．5－12岁,平均7．1岁。单纯二尖瓣关闭不全8例,合并其它心血管畸形67例。二尖瓣关闭不全轻度7例,中度47例,重度21例。二尖瓣脱垂24例,瓣叶裂38例,瓣叶发育不良2例,单纯二尖瓣环扩大11例。手术在中低温体外循环心内直视下进行,行腱索缩短13例（含多根腱索缩短4例）,乳头肌缩短1例,腱索移植3例,瓣叶修复41例,瓣环成形25例,二尖瓣置换2例。同时矫正合并心血管畸形。结果 全组无手术死亡。完全矫正二尖瓣关闭不全54例（71．2％）,残留少量反流17例（23．3％）,中度反流4例（5．5％）。术后随访1．5－13年（平均7．8年）,1例术后4．5年因急性左心衰再次行人工瓣置换术,1例合并严重肺动脉高血压术后5年死于右心衰竭,1例人工瓣置换术后失访。其余患发育良好,心功能均恢复正常。结论 二尖瓣成形术治疗小儿二尖瓣关闭不全可取得良好的效果。     

Mitral valve repair for extended commissural prolapse involving complex prolapse

We reviewed our experience of mitral valve repair techniques for extended commissural prolapse involving complex prolapse of either or both leaflets, due to chordal rupture or elongation. Between June 1991 and January 2005, 21 of 210 patients who underwent mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation had extended commissural prolapse involving either or both of the anterior and posterior leaflets. There were 17 (81%) patients with degenerative and 4 (19%) with infective endocarditis. The distribution of diseased mitral commissural lesions was: posteromedial commissure in 14 (67%) patients, anterolateral in 6 (29%), and bilateral in 1 (5%). Reconstructive techniques included leaflet folding plasty in 10, resection-suture in 6, the sliding technique in 2, commissuroplasty in 2, and chordal shortening in 1. There were no perioperative deaths; postoperative mitral regurgitation was none or trivial in 19 patients and mild in 2. The mean follow-up period was 54 months (range, 2-155 months), and no patient required re-operation. There was one late death from a noncardiac cause at 103 months. Mitral valve repair for extended commissural prolapse is satisfactory. We consider leaflet folding plasty and its modification to be effective in patients who require extensive leaflet resection in the commissural area.     

Early outcome with the Alfieri mitral valve repair

OBJECTIVES: Mitral regurgitation in cases of prolapse of the anterior leaflet, posterior leaflet with calcified annulus, or prolapse of both leaflets is thought to be difficult to repair. The Alfieri repair has been developed to address these conditions. METHODS: Seven patients (four men and three women, mean age 71 +/- 9 years) underwent the Alfieri repair for mitral regurgitation at Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre between January 1999 and December 1999. The mechanism of mitral regurgitation was prolapse of the posterior leaflet with calcified annulus in one patient, prolapse of the anterior leaflet in two, and prolapse of both leaflets in four. Mitral regurgitation before operation was severe in all patients. The Cosgrove ring was used in all patients. Four patients underwent combined operation, coronary artery bypass surgery in three and tricuspid annuloplasty in one. RESULTS: There was no hospital death. Two patients had postoperative complications, transient ischemic attack in one patient and rapid atrial fibrillation in one. The mean hospital stay was 11.3 +/- 8.7 days. Mitral regurgitation after operation was mild in five patients and trivial in two. Mean pressure gradient of the transmitral valve was 4.0 +/- 1.4 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: The Alfieri mitral valve repair is a simple and satisfactory technique to repair mitral regurgitation in selected patients. Long-term follow-up is required to evaluate the durability of this technique.     

二尖瓣腱索断裂292例临床分析

目的 探讨二尖瓣腱索断裂的临床特征、发病规律及其治疗方法 .方法 对292例二尖瓣腱索断裂住院患者的临床资料及病理检查结果 进行回顾性分析.结果 前叶腱索断裂99例(33.9%),后叶腱索断裂180例(61.6%),前后叶腱索均断裂13例(4.5%).腱索部分断裂266例(91.1%),完全断裂26例(8.9%).214例(73.3%)为特发性腱索断裂,78例(26.7%)为继发性腱索断裂(P<0.05).特发性腱索断裂多为黏液样变性所致,发病年龄较大,多为男性,且以后叶居多;继发性二尖瓣腱索断裂的病因多为感染性心内膜炎、冠心病、先天性心脏病、风湿性心脏病,发病年龄较小,多为男性,且以前叶居多.结论 二尖瓣腱索断裂后叶发病率高于前叶,前后叶腱索均断裂较少见.特发性二尖瓣腱索断裂较继发性腱索断裂多见.     

Differentiating clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of chordal rupture detected in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease and floppy mitral valve: impact of the infective endocarditis on chordal rupture.

AIMS: We aimed to compare the clinical and echocardiographic correlates of chordal rupture in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease and floppy mitral valve. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study group comprised of 224 patients who underwent transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography because of the severe mitral regurgitation. Chordal rupture was detected in 58 (25.9%) out of the 224 patients, in 33 out of the 83 (39.7%) patients with floppy mitral valve, and in 25 out of the 141 (17.7%) patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease. Chordal rupture was more frequently associated with anterior leaflet (80%) in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease, and posterior leaflet (72.7%) in patients with floppy mitral valve (p<0.05). Univariate correlates of chordal rupture were age, male sex, posterior mitral leaflet thickening and chordal elongation in patients with floppy mitral valve (p<0.05), and chordal shortening (p<0.0001) and infective endocarditis involving mitral anterior leaflet (p<0.05) in rheumatic group. Independent predictors of chordal rupture were age (>50 years), posterior mitral leaflet thickness (> or =0.45cm), and male sex (p<0.05) in patients with floppy mitral valve while infective endocarditis involving mitral anterior leaflet (p<0.05) in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease. Patients with chordal rupture due to floppy mitral valve had an older age (p<0.0001), a male dominance, longer mitral leaflets and chordae, and a larger mitral annulus circumference (p<0.05) as compared to those with rheumatic chordal rupture. Despite the comparable severity of mitral regurgitation and left atrial diameters between the two groups of chordal rupture (p>0.05), functional class and pulmonary artery systolic pressure were higher, and atrial fibrillation, acute deterioration, infective endocarditis, mitral leaflet rupture and need for mitral valve surgery in the 3 months were more frequent in rheumatic chordal rupture subgroup (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Chordal rupture seems to be more frequently associated with anterior mitral leaflet in rheumatic mitral valve disease, whereas it was the posterior leaflet in floppy mitral valve. Chordal rupture was related to male sex, older age, posterior leaflet thickening, and chordal elongation in patients with floppy mitral valve. However, infective endocarditis, acute deterioration, and need for early mitral surgery were more frequent in patients with rheumatic chordal rupture.     

ePTFE人工腱索二尖瓣成形术

本文介绍了用ePTFE缝线作人工腱索行二尖瓣成形术 14例的体会。 14例中用ePTFE缝线作人工腱索 17根 ,二尖瓣成形主要有四种方法 :瓣叶部分切除、切缘缝合 ,然后再在瓣缘和乳头肌间建立人工腱索。二尖瓣裂隙伴卷曲瓣叶的人工腱索重建。大瓣部分切除、自体心包片修补瓣叶后 ,人工腱索重建。瓣叶矩形切除、瓣环Kay成形术。结果 ,因持续性Hb尿再次手术行二尖瓣置换和晚期死亡各 1例 ,其余患者术后恢复满意。作者认为只要正确选择病例 ,用ePTFE缝线作人工腱索行二尖瓣成形术是安全有效的     

Failure mechanics of mitral valve chordae tendineae

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Rupture of chordae tendineae is the main cause of mitral valve insufficiency, and often requires corrective surgery. The precise mechanisms of chordal rupture, however, are unknown. METHODS: Failure mechanics were measured in porcine mitral valve chordae (37 anterior marginal, 40 anterior basal, 35 posterior marginal, and 38 posterior basal). Full-length chordae were weighed, measured, and stretched to failure in an Instron tensile testing machine. The ruptured ends were characterized under a dissecting microscope. RESULTS: Marginal chordae had 68% thinner cross-sectional areas and failed at 68% less load and 28% less strain than basal chordae. Chordae from the posterior leaflet were 35% thinner and failed at 43% less load and 22% less strain than anterior leaflet chordae. Failure strength was lowest for posterior marginal chordae. Chordae most frequently tore just below the leaflet insertion, in what was often their narrowest section. CONCLUSION: Overall, the marginal chordae and posterior leaflet chordae were thinner and required less strain and load to fail than basal chordae and anterior leaflet chordae, respectively. These results support previous reports of decreased extensibility in marginal chordae. The high incidence of ruptures in the posterior marginal chordae of diseased mitral valves may be due to an inherent weakness in these chordae.     

Congenital aortic valve disease with rupture of mitral chordae tendineae.

A new clinical entity is described in which free aortic regurgitation from congenital aortic valve disease caused rupture of the chordae to the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve in 7 men aged 45 to 63 years (mean 52 years); 2 of the patients also had rupture of chordae to the posterior leaflet. Comparing these patients with those with ruptured mitral chordae in association with rheumatic heart disease and patients with spontaneous chordal rupture, differences were evident. No patient had a history of rheumatic fever and none had active infection. The typical clinical presentation was of acute mitral regurgitation into a small left atrium, with severe pulmonary oedema which was often resistant to medical treatment. The cause of chordal rupture in these patients was in part the result of progressive left ventricular dilatation, of direct trauma to the anterior cusp of the mitral valve, and possibly of a genetic factor. The anatomical features of both aortic and mitral valves are described, and in 3 histology of the mitral valve was available; 2 had myxomatous degeneration similar to that seen in patients with spontaneous chordal rupture, and in 1 there was degeneration of collagen tissue. All patients were treated surgically but the mortality was high (5 out of 7,70%). Early operation with replacement of the aortic and mitral valves is recommended if this high mortality is to be reduced.     

The advantage of repair of mitral valve in acute endocarditis

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Mitral valve repair offers a survival benefit compared with valve replacement in surgery for non-infectious mitral regurgitation. It is unclear whether repair offers an advantage for patients undergoing mitral valve surgery for active endocarditis. Morbidity and mortality (early and late) and event-free survival were compared between the repair and replacement groups. METHODS: Between September 1986 and July 1999, 44 patients with acute native mitral valve endocarditis underwent surgery; 28 patients had valve replacement, and 16 underwent repair. Nine patients had complex repairs including replacement of a portion of the leaflet with prosthetic patch, placement of artificial chordae, resection of a portion of both leaflets, and/or reconstruction of a commissure. The remainder had simple repairs. RESULTS: Preoperative characteristics and indications for surgery between the two groups were similar. There were six in-hospital (21%) and six late cardiac deaths (21%) in the valve replacement group, but no early deaths or late cardiac deaths in the repair group (p <0.05). Independent risk factors for early and late death were need for associated procedures (p <0.03) and mitral valve replacement (p <0.05). Additional risk factors for late death were diabetes mellitus (p = 0.005) and hemodynamic instability as an indication for surgery (p = 0.047). Five patients undergoing valve replacement required reoperation due to recurrent endocarditis, compared with none in the repair group (p = 0.065). Mean follow up was 39+/-33 months in the repair group, and 57+/-51 months in the replacement group. CONCLUSION: Early and late mortality and event-free survival were better in patients undergoing mitral valve repair compared with replacement for acute endocarditis. Valve repair should be carried out whenever possible in this patient group.