title: An alternative method of prosthetic mitral valve implantation in the presence of extensive calcification.
abstract: Annular calcifications carry some technical difficulties for success in conventional valve surgery. In this paper we present an easy alternative mitral valve replacement method applied for a patient with a heavily calcified mitral annulus. Excision of both leaflets and partial resection of the annular calcification with an ultrasonic dissector allowed the intra-atrial insertion of a 33-mm Omnicarbon monoleaflet prosthetic valve through a smaller opening of the left posterior atrium. The technical difficulties in inserting a prosthetic valve in a patient with a heavily calcified mitral annulus are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery Celal Bayar University Medical Faculty, Manisa, Turkey. hayrettin.sirin@bayar.edu.tr
authors.forename: B Hayrettin
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Sirin
authors.forename: Ihsan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Iskesen
authors.forename: Koray
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Erbuyun
mesh_terms: D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D004452:Echocardiography; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*