Repair of Mitral Regurgitation from Myxomatous Degeneration in the Patient with a Severely Calcified Posterior Annulus

Severe posterior annular calcification poses a particular challenge to mitral valve repair. In a series of 252 mitral valve repairs for myxomatous degeneration performed between 1980 and 1993, 14 patients had a severely calcified posterior mitral valve annulus. Ages ranged from 61 to 81 years. Twelve patients were preoperative NYHA Class III or IV, and five patients required concurrent coronary artery bypass procedures. Operative techniques included complete resection of the calcified posterior annulus, resections of portions of the posterior leaflet with leaflet advancement, and placement of an annuloplasty ring. There were no operative deaths and all patients had a postoperative echocardiographic confirmation of relief from mitral regurgitation. During a mean follow-up time of 36 months (6 months to 8 years), there has been one late valve reoperation and only one late death, from thromboembolism in a patient with atrial fibrillation. These data indicate that even in the presence of severe calcification of the posterior mitral annulus, mitral valve repair for myxomatous degeneration can be performed with a low-operative risk and satisfactory long-term results.     

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。     

Valvuloplasty with glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium in patients with complex mitral valve pathology

BACKGROUND: Severe mitral regurgitation associated with complex mitral valve disease often precludes successful surgical repair. The feasibility and the results of valvuloplasty with glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium remain largely unknown. METHODS: The cases of 63 patients who underwent operation within an 11-year period were studied. A pretreated autologous pericardial patch was used for leaflet extension plasty, for paracommissural plasty, as a substitute for part of the leaflet, and for reimplantation of ruptured papillary muscles to eliminate severe mitral regurgitation. Patients with a severely calcified annulus after en bloc decalcification had straddling endoventricular pericardial patch annuloplasty for reconstruction of the affected atrioventricular groove. Chordal replacement with a strip of pericardium was chosen if no suitable chordae were available. Pericardium-reinforced suture annuloplasty was used in patients with acute endocarditis resistant to medical therapy. Associated valvuloplasty procedures with Carpentier techniques were also employed. RESULTS: There were no operative deaths in this series. At a mean follow-up of 61.1 months (range, 4 to 132 months), mitral regurgitation was absent or trivial in 92.1% of patients by echocardiography. Freedom from reoperation was 95.2% at 1 year and 5 years. Thromboembolic events have not been detected. Thirty percent of patients returned to sinus rhythm. Two patients required valve replacement. CONCLUSIONS: Our beneficial results indicate that glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium is suitable for valvuloplasty. It provides durable and predictable repair of valves that might otherwise need to be replaced because of the complex mitral valve disease. The technique is reliable, allows further efficacious repair possibilities, and improves postoperative outcomes. Whether it can prevent late deterioration and calcification requires more investigation.     

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.     

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).     

二尖瓣成形术的临床研究(附131例报告)

目的 总结二尖瓣成形手术方法 和临床效果.方法 对131例各种病因引起的二尖瓣关闭不全实施成形手术,术中发现二尖瓣的病理改变有瓣环扩大、瓣叶脱垂、瓣叶裂、瓣叶增厚、钙化、赘生物形成和腱索断裂、三瓣化等.成形的方法有:瓣环环缩、交界缝缩、补片扩大前叶、双孔成形、后叶矩形切除、钙化灶及赘生物切除、人工瓣环植入等.术中采用注水试验和经食管超声检查成形效果.结果 手术死亡2例,二次开胸止血3例,急性肾功能衰竭2例.术后1周、3个月及9个月心脏彩超检查:左房内径、左室舒张末径缩小,左室射血分数提高.术后9个月心脏彩超检查:无或轻度返流98例,中度返流29例,重度返流2例(1例于10个月后行二尖瓣置换术).结论 术中根据瓣膜不同的病理改变特点,灵活采用多种成形方法 ,可以取得较好的成形效果,术中经食管超声或注水试验效果不佳者,应考虑瓣膜置换.     

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.     

Neochordal repair of the posterior mitral leaflet

BACKGROUND: Myxomatous mitral valve insufficiency is traditionally repaired by posterior leaflet quadrangular resection and reconstruction. A simplified repair technique without leaflet resection is described, and our initial experience is reviewed. METHODS: Thirty-nine consecutive patients with significant mitral regurgitation underwent repair since January 2000 by placement of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures between the leading (coapting) edge of the posterior leaflet and the corresponding papillary muscle. An annuloplasty ring was placed, and no leaflet tissue was resected. Patient medical records were obtained and retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Twenty-five men and 14 women (median age, 61 years; range, 40-88 years) had their mitral valve repaired by a variety of surgical approaches, including robotic (18 patients), right thoracotomy (6 patients), and sternal (15 patients). Three patients have required valve replacement: 1 at the initial operation, 1 because of dehiscence of the annuloplasty ring, and 1 after subsequent rupture of a previously normal native chorda. At follow-up (median, 12 months), 92% (33/36) of the remaining patients had an intact mitral repair with no to mild regurgitation, 8.3% (3/36) of patients had moderate regurgitation, and 92% of all patients (36/39) were in New York Heart Association class I. There were no deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Myxomatous mitral regurgitation due to posterior leaflet insufficiency can be repaired without leaflet resection by placement of neochordae. This repair technique is effective and is readily accomplished by traditional and minimally invasive surgical approaches.     

Novel approach to mitral valve repair in childhood dilated cardiomyopathy

Evidence is mounting that mitral valve repair can improve symptoms in adults with dilated cardiomyopathy. Data is currently lacking for children with dilated cardiomyopathy and options for annuloplasty are limited in children. We report on the successful management of a 21 month-old child in heart failure from dilated cardiomyopathy and severe mitral regurgitation. The echocardiogram showed severely dilated left heart cavities, severe mitral regurgitation from a dilated annulus (23 mm, Z-score 1.74) with discrete anterior leaflet tethering, and moderate systolic dysfunction. The mitral valve was repaired using a 16 mm Bioring Kalangos biodegradable annuloplasty ring. The patient was extubated on the third postoperative hour and discharged on the fifth postoperative day with trivial mitral regurgitation and a 5 mmHg mean transvalvular gradient. At 12 months, the patient is in NYHA class I and presents trivial central mitral regurgitation without any transmitral gradient. This represents the first report in successfully managing a child with dilated cardiomyopathy with mitral regurgitation using a novel biodegradable annuloplasty ring, which has the potential to durably remodel the mitral annulus and grow with the patient.     

The long-term results of commissure plication annuloplasty for congenital mitral insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Mitral valve repair in the pediatric population remains demanding because of a diversity of apparatus anomalies and the young age of the patients. METHODS: We reviewed our clinical results for mitral valve repairs for congenital mitral insufficiency. Forty-nine consecutive patients aged 2 months to 34 years (mean, 4.4 years) had mitral valve repair between June 1984 and December 1996. Forty-one patients (83.7%) had associated cardiac anomalies. The predominant pathologies for the regurgitations were chordal anomalies in 34 patients (69%), annular dilatation in 8 (16%), and leaflet anomalies in 7 (14%). Mitral valve repair included commissure plication annuloplasty in 43 patients (88%), modified DeVega in 11, cleft closure in 5, plication of the anterior leaflet in 3, triangular resection of the anterior leaflet in 2, chordal shortening in 1, and placement of artificial chordae in 1. Several combined techniques were required in 19 patients. RESULTS: There were no early or late deaths. The follow-up period was from 6 to 166 months (mean, 88.4 months). Forty-seven patients (95.9%) were in New York Heart Association class I. The long-term echocardiographic studies showed that 2 of 30 patients without reoperation had moderate regurgitation. The actuarial freedom from reoperation was 85.6% (95% confidence limits, 72.8%, 98.4%) at 13 years. Five patients (10.2%) required valve replacement from 13 days to 75 months after the valve repair. Two patients had cerebral ischemic events as a result of cardiomegaly and atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSIONS: Valve repair for congenital mitral insufficiency gave adequate results in combination with commissure plication annuloplasty and other techniques with excellent long-term functional status.     

Advanced experience allows robotic mitral valve repair in the presence of extensive mitral annular calcification

ObjectiveMitral annular calcification is underdiagnosed in patients with mitral regurgitation. After excision, it may require reconstruction of the atrioventricular groove and decreases the probability of valve repair. We reviewed the safety and efficacy of totally endoscopic robotic mitral valve repair in the presence of mitral annular calcification, with an emphasis on pathology and repair techniques.MethodsBetween May 2011 and August 2017, the same 2-surgeon team attempted totally endoscopic robotic mitral valve repair in 64 mitral annular calcification cases, accounting for 12.8% of our experience. Mitral annular calcification associated with a calcified posterior leaflet was not considered for totally endoscopic robotic mitral valve repair. When possible, the mitral annular calcification was excised en bloc using electrocautery, the posterior leaflet separated from the mitral annular calcification and spared, the atrioventricular groove was reconstructed, the posterior leaflet was reattached to the neoannulus, and the repair was completed with annuloplasty.ResultsThe median age of patients was 65 years, with 21 (32.8%) aged less than 60 years, and 34 (53.1%) were women. The etiology was Barlow's disease in 54 patients (84%). Repair was converted to replacement in 2 patients (3.1%). Cryoablation was performed in 8 patients (12.5%), hybrid percutaneous coronary intervention was performed in 5 patients (7.8%), and tricuspid annuloplasty was performed in 2 patients (3.1%). Median aortic occlusion was 122 minutes, excluding cases with concomitant tricuspid repair. Thirty-three patients (52%) were extubated in the operating room. The median length of stay was 4 days. Residual mitral regurgitation on discharge transthoracic echocardiogram was none to mild in all patients. None of the patients had a perioperative stroke or needed a pacemaker. Thirty-day mortality was 2 (3.1%).ConclusionsMitral annular calcification is present in a significant percentage of patients with mitral regurgitation, especially in Barlow's disease, including younger patients. By using a variety of repair techniques, totally endoscopic robotic mitral valve repair can be performed safely and effectively in most mitral annular calcification cases with a noncalcified posterior leaflet.     

Posterior mitral valve restoration for ischemic regurgitation

Chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation is traditionally a complex lesion to repair. Only restrictive annuloplasty has become an accepted strategy to avoid valve replacement, but results are unsatisfactory in some subgroups of patients. We describe an original technique that addresses the pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for one of the most common subtypes of ischemic mitral regurgitation, ie, asymmetric tethering of the mitral leaflets after inferior myocardial infarction. The technique includes partial detachment of the posterior leaflet from the mitral annulus, annular plication, and posterior cusp plasty.     

瓣膜成形术治疗婴幼儿中重度先天性二尖瓣闭锁不全及其疗效分析

目的　总结婴幼儿中、重度先天性二尖瓣关闭不全 (MI)成形术的经验并探讨影响疗效的相关因素。　方法　 38例中、重度MI患者 ,其中单纯MI 5例 ,合并心内其他畸形 33例。本组患者平均年龄 (2 3± 1 2 )岁 ,<1 0岁的 5例 ;体重 (1 2 6± 3 9)kg ,<1 0 0kg的 1 3例 ,均在中低温体外循环下行二尖瓣成形和心内其他畸形矫治。术中根据二尖瓣病理变化的不同分别采用交界缝缩、部分瓣环环缩、瓣叶裂缺修补、腱索缩短和转移、人工腱索、后瓣成形等方法恢复二尖瓣功能 ,必要时可多种方法同时应用。　结果　本组患儿术后无一例死亡 ,无严重并发症 ;随访 2个月～ 6年 ,平均 (30±1 0 )个月。 1 1例二尖瓣反流消失 ,2 2例轻度反流 ,3例中度反流 ,2例中～重度反流 ;37例无临床症状 ,心功能Ⅰ级 ,1例心功能Ⅱ～Ⅲ级 ,需内科药物辅助。　结论　瓣膜成形术治疗婴幼儿先天性二尖瓣关闭不全可取得满意的早、中期效果 ;年龄和合并畸形不再是影响手术成败和术后疗效的主要因素。二尖瓣的病理变化对疗效有重要影响     

Aortic and mitral valve replacement for calcified valvular annulus in a dialysis patient; report of a case

A 77-year-old man on hemodialysis was admitted to our hospital due to heart failure. Echocardiography showed aortic valve stenosis and regurgitation, mitral valve stenosis and regurgitaion, and tricuspid valve regurgitation. Catheter examination revealed severe calcification at aortic valve and mitral valve including their annulus. At the operation, the calcifications of the aortic and mitral valvular annulus was removed using a cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA). Reconstructions of the defect of the posterior part of the mitral annulus and of the aortic annulus at the site of the left coronary cusp were achieved by patch technique using autologous pericardium. Aortic and mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve annuloplasty were performed. The postoperative course was uneventful. Operative technique to remove calcification from valvular annulus using CUSA and reconstruct of the defect of the annulus with autologous pericardium is a very useful technique to prevent left ventricular rupture, perivalvular leakage and any other complications.     

Mitral stenosis after mitral valve repair for non-rheumatic mitral regurgitation

BACKGROUND: Mitral stenosis after mitral valve repair for non-rheumatic mitral regurgitation is rare. METHODS: From 1990 to 1999, 478 patients had mitral valve repair for myxomatous and 40 patients had mitral valve repair for ischemic mitral regurgitation. The Carpentier annuloplasty ring (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) was used in 72 patients, the Duran ring (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) in 152, a posterior band in 221 and no ring or band in 73 patients. RESULTS: Four patients developed mitral stenosis late after mitral valve repair: 2 for myxomatous disease and 2 for ischemic mitral regurgitation. All 4 patients had Duran annuloplasty rings (sizes 25 to 31). The diagnosis of mitral stenosis was made by Doppler echocardiography. The mitral valve area in these 4 patients decreased from 2.7 cm2 (range, 2.3 to 3.2 cm2) early postoperatively to 0.85 cm2 (0.4 to 1.2 cm2) after a mean follow-up of 66 months (range, 38 to 110 months). Three patients had mitral valve replacement and the etiology of the mitral stenosis was the same in all patients (ie, pannus overgrowth on the annuloplasty ring with extension onto both leaflets rendering them stiff and immobile). The fourth patient had a mitral valve area of 1.2 cm2, which was mildly symptomatic with normal pulmonary artery pressure, and this patient has not had reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: Mitral stenosis may develop after mitral valve repair for myxomatous disease or ischemic mitral regurgitation when a Duran ring is used for annuloplasty. The stenosis is caused by pannus on the annuloplasty ring with extension onto the leaflets.     

Midterm outcome of mitral valve repair for congenital mitral regurgitation in infants and children

We analyzed the midterm results of children undergoing mitral valve repair without the use of prosthetic materials focusing on mitral annulus growth. From 1991 to 2004, 17 children (median age: 11 months) underwent mitral valve repair (grade III=9, IV=8). Regurgitation was due to prolapsed leaflet in 8 patients, annular dilatation in 4, and restrictive leaflet motion in 5. Preoperative indexed mitral valve diameter and Z-value were compared with those obtained at follow-up. There were no early or late deaths. All patients had an improved regurgitation grade after surgery. MV repair resulted in reduction in the indexed mitral valve diameter (58.2+/-22.9 vs. 47.3+/-18.9 mm/m2, P<0.05) and Z-value (3.3+/-2.3 vs. 0.79+/-2.2, P<0.05). One patient underwent re-repair, but no patients required mitral valve replacement during the median follow-up period of 95 months. The latest regurgitation grade was absent or I in 4 patients, II in 10 patients, and III in 3 patients. Mitral valve annulus increased by 23% at 3 years and by 49% at 5 years compared with that at surgery. Mitral valve repair without the use of prosthetic materials is feasible for the majority of patients and carries an appropriate growth pattern of the mitral valve annulus after surgery.     

Chordal replacement for leaflet prolapse in a posterior mitral valve with a calcified mitral annulus

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is sometimes associated with Carpentier type 2 mitral valve regurgitation and is a challenge to repair. Complete annular decalcification and mitral valve reconstruction is considered the ideal treatment. This report demonstrates the success of chordal replacement and band annuloplasty without resection of the leaflet and MAC. We have followed the patient for 7 years postoperatively, with no progression of MAC and no regurgitation by echocardiography.     

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.     

The early and mid-term results of mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation in children

Purpose

To review the surgical techniques and mid-term results of mitral valve repair in children with moderate or severe mitral regurgitation (MR).

Methods

One hundred and seven children with moderate or severe MR, aged 19.6 ± 8.5 months, were enrolled in this study. The surgical techniques used for mitral valve repair varied according to the mitral valve morphology, and included annuloplasty, annuloplasty ring, cleft closure, reconstruction of the posterior leaflet, etc. The concomitant cardiac anomalies were treated simultaneously. The results of repair were evaluated by transesophageal echocardiography performed during the operation and by serial transthoracic echocardiography performed during the follow-up.

Results

One hundred and six cases had no more than mild regurgitation intraoperatively, whereas only one case had moderate regurgitation. This patient underwent redo repair immediately, and the subsequent regurgitation was trivial. The in-hospital mortality rate was 0.9 % (1/107). The average follow-up was 46.5 ± 8.2 months. One patient died of heart failure 10 months postoperatively. The freedom from moderate or severe regurgitation after mitral valve repair was 92.3 ± 3.3 %.

Conclusion

Pediatric patients with moderate or severe MR require early surgical treatment. The early and mid-term results of mitral valve repair in pediatric patients were satisfactory.     

Transventricular mitral valve operations

We report transventricular mitral valve operations in 2 patients with severe mitral regurgitation and postinfarction left ventricular rupture and pseudoaneurysm. The first patient had direct papillary muscle involvement necessitating replacement of the mitral valve. The second patient had indirect mitral involvement allowing for placement of an atrial mitral annuloplasty ring via the left ventricle. Both patients showed no mitral valve regurgitation after replacement or repair and had uneventful postoperative recoveries. These cases demonstrate a feasible, alternative, transventricular approach to mitral valve replacement and repair.