title: Relocation of papillary muscles for ischemic mitral valve regurgitation: the role of three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The assessment of the mitral valve apparatus (MVA) and its modifications during ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is better performed by three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The aim of our study was to carry out nonrestrictive mitral annuloplasty in addition to relocation of papillary muscles (PPMs) oriented by preoperative real-time 3D TEE through the mitral valve quantification dedicated software.
  
  
  METHODS
  Since January 2008, a total of 70 patients with severe IMR were examined both before and after mitral valve repair. The mean (SD) coaptation depth and the mean (SD) tenting area were 1.4 (0.4) cm and 3.2 (0.5) cm2, respectively. Intraoperative 3D TEE was performed, followed by a 3D offline reconstruction of the MVA. A schematic MVA model was obtained, and a geometric model as a "truncated cone" was traced according to preoperative data. The expected truncated cone after annuloplasty was retraced. A conventional normal coaptation depth of approximately 6 mm was used to detect the new position of the PPMs tips.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perioperative offline reconstruction of the MVA and the respective truncated cone was feasible in all patients. The expected position of the PPMs tips, desirable to reach a normal tenting area with a coaptation depth of 6 mm or more, was obtained in all patients. After surgery, all parameters were calculated, and no statistically significant difference was found compared with the expected data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Relocation of PPMs plus ring annuloplasty reduce mitral valve tenting and may improve mitral valve repair results in patients with severe IMR. This technique may be easily and precisely guided by preoperative offline 3D echocardiographic mitral valve reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, GVM Care and Research, Maria Eleonora Hospital, Palermo, Palermo, Italy; †Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; and ‡Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, GVM Care and Research, Anthea Hospital, Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Khalil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fattouch
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castrovinci
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murana
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dioguardi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guccione
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nasso
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Speziale
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D058386:Mitral Valve Annuloplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications*; D010210:Papillary Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome