title: Preoperative posterior leaflet angle accurately predicts outcome after restrictive mitral valve annuloplasty for ischemic mitral regurgitation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR) often persists after restrictive mitral valve annuloplasty, in which case it is associated with worse clinical outcomes. The goal of the present study was to determine whether persistence of MR and/or clinical outcome could be predicted from preoperative analysis of mitral valve configuration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 51 consecutive patients undergoing restrictive annuloplasty for ischemic MR, posterior leaflet (PL) angle, anterior leaflet angle, coaptation distance, and tenting area were quantified by echocardiography before surgery (6+/-3 days), and MR severity was assessed before and early after surgery (9+/-4 days). Postoperatively, persistence of mild to moderate MR (vena contracta > 3 mm) was observed in 11 (22%) of the patients. The best predictor of postoperative persistence of MR was a PL angle > or = 45 degrees (sensitivity 100%, specificity 97%, positive predictive value 92%, negative predictive value 100%). Patients with persistent MR had markedly lower 3-year event-free survival (26+/-20%) compared with those with nonpersistent MR (75+/-12%, P=0.01). Preoperative presence of a PL angle > or = 45 degrees also was associated with a markedly lower 3-year event-free survival (22+/-17% versus 76+/-12%; P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients undergoing restrictive annuloplasty for ischemic MR, persistence of MR and 3-year event-free survival can accurately be predicted by preoperative analysis of mitral valve configuration. Patients with a PL angle > or = 45 degrees (ie, with high PL restriction) should thus be considered poor candidates for this procedure, and concomitant or alternative procedures should be contemplated.
authors.affiliation: Quebec Heart Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, Canada, G1V 4G5.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Magne
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pibarot
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dagenais
authors.forename: Zeineb
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hachicha
authors.forename: Jean G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Dumesnil
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sénéchal
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling