Mitral valve replacement and remodeling of the left ventricle in dilated cardiomyopathy with mitral regurgitation: initial results.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the effects of a new method of mitral valve replacement on left ventricular (LV) remodeling and heart failure functional class.


METHODS
Eight patients (6 men) with severe mitral regurgitation from end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy underwent surgery. Five patients were in functional class (FC) IV, 2 were in FC III and 1 was in FC III/IV. Age ranged from 33 to 63 years. Both the anterior and posterior leaflets of the mitral valve were divided into hemileaflets. The resultant 4 pedicles were displaced under traction toward the left atrium and anchored between the mitral annulus and an implanted valvular prosthesis. The beating heart facilitated ideal chordae tendineae positioning.


RESULTS
All patients survived and were discharged from the hospital. After a mean follow-up period of 6.5 months (1-12 m), 5 patients were in FC I; 2 in FC I/II; and 1 in FC II. The preoperative ejection fraction ranged from 19% to 30% (mean: 25.7 +/- 3.4 %), and the postoperative ejection fraction ranged from 21% to 40% (mean: 31.1 +/- 5.8%). Doppler echocardiography showed evidence of LV remodeling in 4 patients, including lateral wall changes and a tendency of the LV cavity to return to its elliptical shape.


CONCLUSIONS
This technique of mitral valve replacement, involving new positioning of the chordae tendineae, allowed LV remodeling and improvement in FC during this brief follow-up period.
Puig
Luiz Boro
LB
Instituto do Coração, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. lpuig@incorl.usp.br
Gaiotto
Fábio Antonio
FA
Oliveira Jd
José de Lima
Jde L
Pardi
Mirian Magalhães
MM
Bacal
Fernando
F
Mady
Charles
C
Fernandes
Fábio
F
Bellotti
Giovanni
G
Ramires
José Antonio Franchini
JA
Oliveira
Sérgio Almeida de
SA
D000328:Adult; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling