title: Similar long-term results of mitral valve repair for anterior compared with posterior leaflet prolapse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The results of mitral valve repair for anterior leaflet prolapse have been less gratifying than those reported for posterior leaflet prolapse. We compared the long-term durability of 2 different surgical techniques: the edge-to-edge repair, which is used for the treatment of anterior leaflet prolapse, and quadrangular resection, which has been adopted for correction of posterior leaflet prolapse.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1991 through April 2004, 133 patients with anterior leaflet prolapse and 605 with posterior leaflet prolapse caused by degenerative mitral disease underwent valve repair. The edge-to-edge repair was used for correction of anterior leaflet prolapse, and quadrangular resection of the posterior leaflet, with or without sliding plasty, was used for correction of posterior leaflet prolapse. All patients received a concomitant annuloplasty procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No hospital deaths occurred in the anterior leaflet prolapse group, whereas 2 (0.3%) patients died in the posterior leaflet prolapse group (P = .7). Follow-up was 100% and 97.2% complete in the anterior and posterior leaflet prolapse groups, respectively. At 10 years, overall survival was 91% +/- 4.06% for anterior leaflet prolapse and 93.5% +/- 1.81% for posterior leaflet prolapse (P = .18), and freedom from cardiac death was 95.8% +/- 2.83% for anterior leaflet prolapse and 97.4% +/- 0.95% posterior leaflet prolapse (P = .27). Freedom from reoperation was 96% +/- 2.3% in the anterior leaflet prolapse group and 96.5% +/- 1.18% in the posterior leaflet prolapse group (P = .37). At follow-up (mean, 4.5 +/- 3.12 years; range, 1 month-13.2 years), New York Heart Association functional class I or II was documented in 93.2% of patients in the anterior leaflet prolapse group and 92.8% in the posterior leaflet prolapse group (P = .98).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The long-term results of the edge-to-edge repair in the setting of anterior leaflet prolapse are similar to those obtained with quadrangular resection for the treatment of posterior leaflet prolapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, San Raffaele University Hospital, Milan, Italy. michele.debonis@hsr.it
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Bonis
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lorusso
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lapenna
authors.forename: Samer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kassem
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Cicco
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Torracca
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maisano
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Canna
authors.forename: Ottavio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alfieri
mesh_terms: D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008945:Mitral Valve Prolapse / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome