Artificial chordae for mitral valve reconstruction in children.
BACKGROUND
Congenital mitral regurgitation continues to present a challenge for cardiac surgeons because of the diversity of the anatomy of the congenitally malformed mitral valve. We undertook aggressive repair of the mitral valve with artificial chordae for reconstruction of the prolapsed anterior leaflet in some children. The short-term results are reported herein.


METHODS
Three patients with isolated congenital mitral regurgitation underwent mitral valve repair with use of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures as artificial chordae.


RESULTS
There have been no late deaths and no valve-related complications. Serial follow-up echocardiographic examinations have not revealed any increase in the severity of mitral regurgitation with continuing patient growth up to 39 months after the operation.


CONCLUSIONS
When combined with other conservative methods of mitral valve repair, chordal replacement with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures in children undergoing mitral valve reconstruction produces good short-term results. We believe that it delays and possibly prevents the need for a mechanical prosthesis with its associated complications in this young patient population.
Murakami
T
T
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, National Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan.
Yagihara
T
T
Yamamoto
F
F
Uemura
H
H
Yamashita
K
K
Ishizaka
T
T
D002306:Cardiac Volume; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002815:Chordae Tendineae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000601:surgery; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development / Q000601:surgery*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008945:Mitral Valve Prolapse / Q000601:surgery; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D012598:Sclerosis; D013537:Sutures; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene