title: Geometric analysis of the anterior mitral leaflet and mitral valve orifice in cadaveric hearts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To establish the criteria for selecting a mitral annuloplasty ring of the correct size, the dimensions of the mitral valve orifice were analyzed in cadaveric hearts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From December 2000 to July 2006, the mitral valve diameter [DM (Obs)] and Z-values [DM (Z); standardized value based on Rowlatt's criteria], the angles of the trigones (theta Tg) and commissures (theta Com) and the intertrigonal distance [L (T)] were measured in 82 fresh cadaveric hearts from cases with variable causes of death (mean age 64.8+/-15.7 years; body surface area [BSA] 1.51+/-0.21 m2). DM (Obs), DM (Z) and L (T) were 2.8+/-0.5 cm, 1.16+/-0.98, and 1.8+/-0.2 cm, respectively. Theta Tg and theta Com averaged 76+/-13 and 121+/-11 degrees, respectively. There was a significant inverse linear relationship between DM (Z) and theta Tg [theta Tg =-10x DM (Z) +88] and a significant logarithmic correlation between L (T) and BSA [L (T) =0.54xLn (BSA) +1.55]. The anterior annular length and L (T) remained unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In non-dilated cadaveric hearts, the trigones were located at one-quarter of the mitral annulus, so the appropriate length of the posterior annuloplasty band should be adjusted to L (T) x3.33.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, Yokkaichi Municipal Hospital, .Yokkaichi, Japan. cvsokamoto@yokkaichihp01.jp
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Yoshiharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002815:Chordae Tendineae / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D012044:Regression Analysis