Edge-to-edge (Alfieri) mitral repair: results in diverse clinical settings.
BACKGROUND
Complex mitral regurgitation (MR) jets can make repair challenging; edge-to-edge (Alfieri) repair augments the repertoire of repair techniques. Objectives of this study were to demonstrate causes of MR amenable to edge-to-edge repair and to determine safety, obstructive potential, and durability of edge-to-edge repair.


METHODS
From January 1997 to October 2001, 224 patients underwent Alfieri repair. Indications included ischemic cardiomyopathy (n = 143, 64%), myxomatous disease (n = 31, 14%), dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 27, 12%), and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (n = 14, 6%). Concomitant ring annuloplasty was performed in 188 patients (84%). Two additional patients had takedown of an Alfieri repair in the operating room for obstruction. Preoperative MR was 4+ in 109 patients (50%) and 3+ in 65 (30%). Postoperative and follow-up mitral gradient and return of MR were assessed using 396 transthoracic echocardiograms and longitudinal analyses.


RESULTS
Hospital mortality was 2% (5 of 224). Mitral valve mean gradient was low (3.7 mm Hg) and nonprogressive (p = 0.7), although peak gradient rose slightly, from mean 8.4 to 10.0 mm Hg (p = 0.01). During the first 3 postoperative months, absence of MR declined to 40%, and prevalence of 3+ MR increased to 14%, then rose slowly thereafter. Fourteen patients--12 within 2 years--underwent mitral valve reoperation, none for stenosis; 7 patients--6 within 2 years--underwent heart transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Alfieri mitral repair can be used in a variety of settings with a low risk of creating mitral stenosis. However, in ischemic MR, steadily increasing prevalence of moderately severe and severe regurgitation after edge-to-edge repair suggests other techniques are needed.
Bhudia
Sunil K
SK
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195, USA.
McCarthy
Patrick M
PM
Smedira
Nicholas G
NG
Lam
Buu-Khanh
BK
Rajeswaran
Jeevanantham
J
Blackstone
Eugene H
EH
D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000150:complications; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000473:pathology; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome