title: The "annular sandwich": a simple method of reinforcing a friable mitral valve annulus.
abstract: In 6 patients undergoing prosthetic mitral valve replacement a ring of Teflon felt, instead of conventional Teflon pledgets, was used because of concern about seating a new prosthesis in a disrupted friable mitral valve annulus. The technique avoided the potential risk of pledget loss in the event of suture breakage and, in these patients, prevented postoperative paraprosthetic mitral valve regurgitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Scotland.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013499:Surface Properties; D013536:Suture Techniques
chemical_list: D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene