title: Self-retaining pledgeted suture as retractor for mitral procedure.
abstract: A simple reliable maneuver to optimize exposure of the left atrium for mitral valve operations is described. It offers more space to mobilize the valvular structure, facilitating complicated reconstruction in the posteromedial commisural area.
authors: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, General Hospital Wels-Teaching Hospital, Grieskirchnerstr. 42, A-4600 Wels, Austria. choi.keung.ng@liwest.at
authors: Choi-Keung
authors: CK
authors: Ng
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Benedikt
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Schwarz
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Hartl
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D004867:Equipment Design; D006324:Heart Arrest, Induced; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D011126:Polypropylenes; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013537:Sutures; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011126:Polypropylenes