title: Decalcification of the mitral annulus: surgical experience in 81 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mitral valve surgery in the presence of extensive calcification of the mitral annulus is a technical challenge and increases perioperative risk. This study reviews our experience with decalcification of the mitral annulus in patients undergoing mitral valve reconstruction or replacement.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1995 to 2003, 81 patients (mean age 64 +/- 13 years, 30 male, 51 female) with extensive calcification of the mitral annulus underwent mitral valve repair (n = 42) or replacement (biological n = 20, mechanical n = 19). The mean follow-up was 24 months. Patients presented with a mean EuroSCORE of 7. Concomitant surgical procedures were performed in 62 %. Patient outcomes were retrospectively assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perioperative survival was 97.5 % (n = 79) and hospital survival was 91.3 % (n = 74). Two-year survival was 88.9 %. Eight patients needed reexploration due to bleeding and five patients required prolonged mechanical ventilation. No perioperative stroke was observed. Freedom from reoperation was 90.2 % (n = 73). Early reoperation for recurrent incompetence was necessary in 3 patients and late reoperation in 5 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the elevated perioperative risk and the high risk of reoperation with this procedure, decalcification of the annulus and repair/replacement of the mitral valve could be performed with good clinical results.
authors.affiliation: JWG Universitätsklinik Frankfurt am Main, THG-Chirurgie, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. md.md@gmx.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doss
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aybek
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wimmer-Greinecker
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moritz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome