Simplified placement of multiple artificial mitral valve chords.
BACKGROUND
The use of artificial chords for the replacement of diseased mitral valve chordae and the correction of anterior and posterior leaflet prolapse is well described, although it is infrequently applied because of technical challenges.


METHODS
A simplified approach to attaching the new chords to a single papillary muscle base within the left ventricle has been reported, and we present a series of 13 patients with moderate-severe mitral regurgitation (MR) who underwent chordal replacement using this improved technique.


RESULTS
The MR grade by echocardiogram improved from 3.7 +/- 0.4 preoperatively to 1.0 +/- 0.8 postoperatively. All patients were doing well at a mean follow-up interval of 285 +/- 62 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Chordal replacement for both anterior and posterior leaflet prolapse is an effective treatment for MR when combined with standard mitral valve repair techniques. The authors' technique of determining proper chordal height and placing multiple chordae is also discussed.
Dang
Nicholas C
NC
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Stewart
Allan S
AS
Kay
Joy
J
Mercando
Michelle L
ML
Kruger
Kurt H
KH
Topkara
Veli K
VK
Oz
Mehmet C
MC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D002815:Chordae Tendineae / Q000601:surgery*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010210:Papillary Muscles / Q000601:surgery; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene