Mitral valve replacement for a severely calcified mitral annulus

We herein describe a surgical technique in a mitral valve replacement for a hemodialysis patient presenting with mitral valve stenosis and severe mitral annular calcification. Mitral annular calcification extending to the left ventricular myocardium was resected using a cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA) to make a flat plane from the left atrium to the left ventricle. An autologous pericardium was secured to the posterior left ventricular wall and to the left atrial wall covering the mitral annulus for annular reconstruction. In the posterior mitral annulus, the prosthetic valve was fixed onto this pericardial patch. After the operation, the patient recovered well without any embolic complications. The prosthetic valve functions normally without any perivalvular leakage. Decalcification using the CUSA and the annular reconstruction with a pericardial patch is therefore indicated in valve replacement for patients with severe mitral annular calcification.