title: Use of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene patch as an artificial leaflet in mitral valve plasty: an early experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) patches as artificial mitral leaflets in complex mitral valve plasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen patients (mean age, 66 +/- 9 years) who were in need of mitral valve replacement successfully underwent mitral valve plasty with enlargement of the basal anterior leaflet using a PTFE patch.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Operative and in-hospital mortality was 0%. Patients were followed-up by maintaining their history, physical examinations, and echocardiography. The mean follow-up period was 30 +/- 15 months (2 to 52 months) with one late mortality and one reoperation. A thin neointimal layer was observed on the explanted PTFE patch. The PTFE patch maintained its pliability with no signs of calcification, excessive thickening, or perforation for 4 years. Mean motion angle of the patch on echocardiography decreased from 41.1 +/- 10.6 to 35.2 +/- 12.5 degrees (p < 0.05) during 26.7 +/- 15.5 months of study (range, 6-46 months). The mean mitral valve area was 2.9 +/- 0.7 cm(2) at last follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PTFE patches may be a promising material for artificial mitral leaflets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Nagoya Daiichi Hospital, Nagoya, Japan. toshi-i@sannet.ne.jp
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Atsuo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maekawa
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamana
authors.forename: Tomo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshizumi
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sunada
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D002815:Chordae Tendineae / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene