[Early outcome with the Alfieri mitral valve repair].
OBJECTIVE
Mitral regurgitation in cases of prolapse of the anterior leaflet, posterior leaflet with calcified annulus, or prolapse of both leaflets is thought to be difficult to repair. The Alfieri repair has been developed to address these conditions.


METHODS
Seven patients (four men and three women, mean age 71 +/- 9 years) underwent the Alfieri repair for mitral regurgitation at Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre between January 1999 and December 1999. The mechanism of mitral regurgitation was prolapse of the posterior leaflet with calcified annulus in one patient, prolapse of the anterior leaflet in two, and prolapse of both leaflets in four. Mitral regurgitation before operation was severe in all patients. The Cosgrove ring was used in all patients. Four patients underwent combined operation, coronary artery bypass surgery in three and tricuspid annuloplasty in one.


RESULTS
There was no hospital death. Two patients had postoperative complications, transient ischemic attack in one patient and rapid atrial fibrillation in one. The mean hospital stay was 11.3 +/- 8.7 days. Mitral regurgitation after operation was mild in five patients and trivial in two. Mean pressure gradient of the transmitral valve was 4.0 +/- 1.4 mmHg.


CONCLUSIONS
The Alfieri mitral valve repair is a simple and satisfactory technique to repair mitral regurgitation in selected patients. Long-term follow-up is required to evaluate the durability of this technique.
Nakanishi
K
K
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
Raman
J
J
Hata
M
M
Buxton
B
B
D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D008945:Mitral Valve Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome