Mitral valve repair by Alfieri's technique does not limit exercise tolerance more than Carpentier's correction

Objective: The main goal of this study was to evaluate if the edge-to-edge mitral repair could be a limiting factor for exercise tolerance and to compare these results to those of classical techniques. Methods: Between 2000 and 2002, 54 consecutive patients were operated on for mitral valve regurgitation (MR). Twenty-five patients were operated with Alfieri's technique (group A) and 29 patients with Carpentier's technique (group C). The mean age was 63.9 years in group A and 63.8 years in group C (p = 0.98). After a mean follow-up of 16.2 ± 12 months, survivor patients were seen at the outpatient clinic, by the same physician for a clinical evaluation, an echocardiogram at rest and at peak exercise, and received a cardiorespiratory exercise testing with maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂ max) recording. Results: Clinical status improved with 0% of the patients in class NYHA III or IV in either group postoperatively versus 77% preoperatively. There was no significant MR in 80% of cases in group A versus 89.6% in group C (p = 0.54). The mean mitral valve area was 2.5 and 2.9 cm² in groups A and C, respectively (p = 0.018). The mitral gradient at rest was 3.8 and 3.3 mmHg (p = 0.31) and the mitral gradient at peak exercise was 8.5 and 9.7 mmHg (p = 0.22) in groups A and C, respectively. Cardiorespiratory exercise testing showed a mean VO₂ max of 73.7 ± 15% of normal value in group A versus 79.6 ± 13.1% in group C (p = 0.18). Conclusion: Alfieri's technique has the same efficiency on improvement of MR and clinical status than classical repair. Despite a higher restriction of mitral valve area at rest in group A, gradient and mean VO₂ max at peak exercise were similar in both groups.