Abstract: Objective To summarize the clinical results of homemade flexible annuloplasty ring in mitral valve repair, in order to discuss the appropriate ring size. Methods Sixtysix patients (55 males,and 11 females with a mean age of 44.62±15.94 years) with mitral insufficiency underwent mitral valve repair with homemade flexible annuloplasty ring from April 2002 to November 2009 in Fu Wai Hospital. In order to choose the ring with an appropriate size, we made and kept to the following principles: if the intercommissural distance was bigger than size 30, we chose a ring 2size smaller; if the measured distance was smaller than size 30, 1size smaller ring would be chosen. Patients were followed by echocardiography to observe the mitral valve function. Results All patients were cured and discharged from the hospital. The results of echocardiography showed mild to moderate regurgitation in 1 patient, mild regurgitation in 11 patients, and normal mitral function or trace regurgitation in the rest 54 patients. Mitral valve forward velocity was 1.40±0.30 m/s with no mitral stenosis or systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the anterior mitral leaflet. Fiftyone patients were followed up from 2 months to 7 years(24.60±25.90 months). The results of echocardiography on 38 patients showed that 1 patient had moderate regurgitation, 5 patients had mild to moderate regurgitation, 9 patients had mild regurgitation and others had normal mitral function or trace regurgitation. For these 38 patients included in the followup study, mitral valve forward velocity was 1.50±0.40 m/s with no mitral stenosis, SAM or left ventricular outlet tract obstruction. During the followup, the left atrium size (43.19±10.48 mm vs. 48.59±9.40 mm, t=4.524, P=0.000) and left ventricular end diastolic diameter (52.64±7.35 mm vs. 6269±8.77 mm, t=7.607, P=0.000) decreased significantly than the preoperative size and diameter respectively. The application of restrictive homemade flexible annuloplasty ring in mitral valve annuloplasty had satisfactory, durable and stable clinical results.
Objective To compare chordal transposition and chordal shortening in repairing anterior leaflet prolapse (ALP)， and explore the surgical indications as well as merits and demerits of these two techniques. 〖WTHZ〗Methods We retrospectively reviewed the data of 90 ALP patients recruited into Anzhen Hospital between March 1986 and March 2008, and classified them into chordal shortening group (n=23) and chordal transposition group (n=67). KaplanMeier survival curve and freedom from reoperation curve were established to compare the two groups. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic analysis regression were used to identify independent risk factors for early death and late cardiac events. 〖WTHZ〗Results There were three perioperative deaths in chordal shortening group（13.0%）, and three deaths in chordal transposition group (4.4%), and the difference was not significant (χ2=2.019，P=0.155). The follow-up time ranged from 1 month to 18 yrs（7.70±5.41 yrs）. There were 5 late deaths, of which 3 were in chordal shortening group and 2 in chordal transposition group. The KaplanMeier survival curve showed that 5-year survival rate of chordal shortening group was significantly lower than chordal transposition group (70.00%±18.24% vs.98.00%±1.98%,χ2=12.50, P=0.000); And the KaplanMeier freedom from reoperation curve showed [CM(159mm]that 5-year reoperation rate of chordal shortening group was also significantly lower than chordal transposition group (83.30%±15.20% vs.96.10%±2.71%,χ2=10.27，P≤0.001). By the univariate analysis, we found that age＞55 yrs old, concomitant CABG procedure, New York Heart Association (NYHA) function class Ⅲ-Ⅳ, preoperative heart failure history, aortic clamping time＞90 min, and preoperative lefe ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)＜45% were the risk factors for perioperative death and risk factors for late cardiac events included postoperative mitral regurgitation＞2+, chordal shortening technique, preoperative heart failure history, and aortic clamping time＞90 min. The multivariate logistic analysis regression showed that aortic clamping time＞90 min, concomitant CABG procedure, preoperative LVEF＜45% were the independent predictors for perioperative death, and NYHA class ⅢⅣ, chordalshortening technique and residual mitral regurgitation＞2+ were the independent predictors for the late cardiac events. Conclusion （1） There is no statistically difference between chordal transposition and chordal shortening in the perioperative survival rate. (2) Chordal transposition has a relative superiority to chordal shortening in terms of 5-year survival rate. (3) Chordal transposition has a higher mid and longterm rate of freedom from reoperation than chordal shortening. （4） Although chordal transposition has a lower incidence of reoperation and ahigher mid and longterm survival rate, the indication for it is restricted to less extensive ALP and patients with transferrable chord in the posterior leaflet. Chordal shortening is an independent risk factor for late events.
Objective To summarize the clinical experiences of the application of posterior leaflet chordal transfer in the treatment of anterior mitral leaflet prolapse, and to investigate the best time for mitral valve repair. Methods From October 2004 to October 2008, 16 patients with anterior mitral leaflet prolapse underwent mitral valve repair. The echocardiography diagnosis revealed that 10 patients had chordal rupture, 4 had chordal elongation, 2 had both rupture and elongation. And there were 3 with A1 segment prolapse, 6 with A2 segment prolapse, 3 with A3 segment prolapse, 2 with both A1 and A2 segment prolapse, 2 with both A2 and A3 segment prolapse. All the patients underwent posterior leaflet chordal transfer, and one of them with coronary artery disease underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. Results There was no operative death. The echocardiography examination revealed that there were 2 patients with mild regurgitation, 6 with trivial regurgitation and 8 with no regurgitation before discharge. The patients received nticoagulation treatment of warfarin for 3 months after discharge. All the patients were followed up for 1-46 months(22.0±3.5 months). The echocardiography examination showed that there were 3 patients with mild regurgitation, 7 with trivial regurgitation and 6 with no regurgitation. There were 12 patients with New York Heart Association(NYHA) classⅠ, and 4 with class Ⅱ. The left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) was lower than that before operation(53.0%±3.4％ vs.65.0%±4.2％,P=0.013),and there was no statistical significance compared with that before operation(61.0%±2.1％vs.65.0%±4.2％, P=0.110). The left ventricular end diastolic diameter decreased significantly compared with that before operation(50.0±3.2 mm, 47.0%±2.8 mm vs.580±6.5 mm，P=0.031，0020). The postoperative cardiac function improved significantly (P=0.002). Conclusion Posterior leaflet chordal transfer is an effective method for anterior mitral leaflet prolapse. The best time for mitral valve repair is when LVEF＞60%, left ventricle enlarges a little, and NYHA class＞Ⅲ before operation.
Objective To study the clinical results and operative methods of mitral valvoplasty in patients of congenital heart disease with mitral insufficiency. Methods One hundred and twelve patients of congenital heart disease with mitral insufficiency had been treated with valve repair procedure. The surgery was performed under extracorporeal circulation and moderate hypothermia. Most of the patients were diagnosed atrioventricular septal defects (29 cases), ventricular septal defect (25 cases), patent ductus arteriosus (14 cases), and atrial septal defect (14 cases) before operation. The main pathologic characters of mitral valve were mitral valve annular dilatation (58 cases), leaflet lesions (37cases), anterior and posterior leaflet prolapse (36 cases). The surgery consisted of complex methods to repair mitral valves, including rings annuloplasty (22 cases), closure of the commissure (18 cases), double-orifice method (14 cases), chords reimplantation and so on. Results Seventy two patientshad 0 to I class mitral valve regurgitation and 26 patients had Ⅱ class mitral valve regurgitation during the retrial period by echocardiography, only one case needed re-operation. The patients with left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) more than 45mm had a reduction of left atrial diameter (from 45.8±10.7mm to 34.4±8.9mm, t=6.53, 7.89,(Plt;)0.001) and left ventricular diameter (from 58.6±10.9 mm to 44.3±8.5 mm, t=7.89, Plt;0.001) after operation. Conclusions Surgical operation on mitral valve regurgitation of congenital heart defect is a benefit and a compound method and transesophageal echocardiography may help the surgeon in estimating the surgical efficacy during operation.