title: Long-term results of an open flexible prosthetic band for mitral insufficiency.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  use of a prosthetic ring is an integral part of any mitral valve repair and can influence the long-term stability of the results. We evaluated the long-term results of the AnnuloFlex ring implanted as an open flexible band in patients affected by degenerative mitral disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  between 2001 and 2010, 82 patients (52 women, 30 men) with a mean age of 62 years, underwent repair of a prolapsing mitral valve with an AnnuloFlex band. One patient was reoperated on for a technical error and received a mechanical prosthesis, 3 were missing at follow-up, and the other 78 were prospectively followed up with clinical interviews and transthoracic echocardiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the mean follow-up was 7.0 ± 1.8 years. Six patients died; 2 deaths were considered valve-related. The overall survival estimate at 10 years was 88.6% (95% confidence interval: 76.1%-94.8%). Freedom from endocarditis was 97.1% (95% confidence interval: 89.1%-98.5%). Freedom from thrombosis or hemorrhage was 93.7% (95% confidence interval: 81.6%-97.9%). Freedom from new or increased regurgitation was 93.1% (95% confidence interval: 87.3%-97.3%). The cumulative freedom from any valve-related event was 78.6% (95% confidence interval: 69.7%-97.1%). A single case of systolic anterior motion occurred before hospital discharge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the long-term results of the AnnuloFlex band are excellent and stable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Science, Policlinico Agostino Gemelli, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy claudio.pragliola@libero.it.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pragliola
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, Università Campus Biomedico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chello
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Science, Policlinico Agostino Gemelli, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaudino
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Science, Policlinico Agostino Gemelli, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Science, Policlinico Agostino Gemelli, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cellini
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, Università Campus Biomedico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spadaccio
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, Università Campus Biomedico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elvio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Covino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D058386:Mitral Valve Annuloplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000401:mortality; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012086:Reoperation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Cardiac valve annuloplasty; Mitral valve insufficiency; Postoperative complications; Treatment outcome