Is an anterior mitral leaflet prolapse still a challenge?
Quadrangular resection is the gold standard in the treatment of posterior leaflet prolapse. Anterior leaflet prolapse has been considered a more challenging problem; several techniques are available to treat it, all with the same goal - mitral valve competency. Nowadays, good long-term results are reported, similar to those for posterior leaflet prolapse. Certain improvements may explain these results, especially improvements in transesophageal echocardiography (including three-dimensional echocardiography), which allow the detection of atypical mitral regurgitation and its mechanism.
Aubert
Stéphane
S
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Pontchaillou Hospital, 35000 Rennes, France. stephaneaubert@yahoo.fr
Flecher
Erwan
E
D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D002815:Chordae Tendineae / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D008945:Mitral Valve Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*; D010210:Papillary Muscles / Q000601:surgery; D011391:Prolapse; D013536:Suture Techniques