title: Optimal length of pericardial strip for posterior mitral overreductive annuloplasty.
abstract: Our recent experience with an autologous pericardium strip to obtain an overreducing posterior mitral annuloplasty is reported. From March 2001 to May 2002, 31 patients underwent this procedure to correct functional (n = 19) or postischemic (n = 12) mitral regurgitation. The length of the pericardium strip was always 4 cm; mean final mitral area was 2.9 cm2, with a mean gradient of 2.9 mm Hg. Eight patients underwent a stress test. Mitral area increased from 3.1 to 3.6 cm2, and the mean gradient increased from 3.1 to 5.2 mm Hg. Residual mitral regurgitation was 0.5 and, when present, remained unchanged at the end of the stress. Overreducing posterior mitral annuloplasty by using a 4-cm pericardial strip gives reproducible results and is effective in correcting functional or postischemic mitral regurgitation. Residual mitral regurgitation, when present, remains stable after stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, University G. D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy. calafiore@unich.it
authors.forename: Antonio M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Calafiore
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Mauro
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallina
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Canosa
authors.forename: Angela Lorena
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Iacò
mesh_terms: D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010496:Pericardium / Q000637:transplantation*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013536:Suture Techniques