title: Placement of Neochords in Mitral Valve Repair: Enhanced Exposure of the Papillary Muscles Using a Standard Valve Sizer.
abstract: Minimally invasive mitral valve repair with placement of artificial chordae for mitral valve regurgitation has become the standard of care. In some cases, such as Barlow's disease or bileaflet prolapse, papillary muscle exposure may be difficult. By using a valve sizer to retract both leaflets, visualization can be optimized, thus simplifying suture placement and thereby minimizing cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times. This technique is simple, is cost effective, and can be applied quickly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, Munich, Germany. Electronic address: dorfmeister@dhm.mhn.de.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erlebach
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Ruediger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mazzitelli
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D008945:Mitral Valve Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*; D010210:Papillary Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors