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Degenerative Mitral Valve Repair Simplified: An Evolution to Universal Artificial Cordal Repair

  • Chetan Pasrija
  • , Douglas Tran
  • , Mehrdad Ghoreishi
  • , Ethan Kotloff
  • , David Yim
  • , Joshua Finkel
  • , Sari D Holmes
  • , David Na
  • , Stephen Devlin
  • , Filomena Koenigsberg
  • , Murtaza Dawood
  • , Rachael Quinn
  • , Bartley P Griffith
  • , James S Gammie

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Resectional and artificial cordal repair techniques are effective strategies for degenerative mitral valve (MV) repair. However, resectional repair requires a tailored approach using various techniques, whereas cordal repair offers a simpler, easily reproducible repair. The approach described in this study approach has evolved from resectional to cordal over time, and outcomes are compared between the eras.

METHODS: Clinical and echocardiographic outcomes of all patients undergoing MV repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) from January 2004 to September 2017 were reviewed. Patients were stratified by era: from January 2004 to June 2011 (era 1; n = 405), resectional techniques were used in 62% and artificial cordal techniques were used in 38%. From July 2011 to September 2017 (era 2; n = 438), artificial cordal repair was used in 98% of patients. The primary outcome was repair failure, defined as greater than moderate MR or MV reoperation.

RESULTS: Of 847 patients with degenerative MR, successful repair was achieved in 843 patients (99.5% repair rate). Leaflet prolapse was posterior in 66%, anterior in 8%, and bileaflet in 26%. Cardiopulmonary bypass time and cross-clamp times were shorter in era 2 (CPB: 109 [IQR, 92-128] minutes vs 97 [IQR, 76-121] minutes; P < .001; cross-clamp: 88 [IQR, 73-106] minutes vs. 79 [IQR, 61-99] minutes; P < .001). Predismissal echocardiography demonstrated no MR or trace MR in 95%, mild MR in 4.7%, and moderate MR in 0.3% of patients. Operative mortality was similar in the eras (0.5% vs 0.5%; P > .999). The rates of 5-year freedom from repair failure (95.1% vs 95.5%; P = .707), stroke (96.8% vs 95.3%; P = .538), and endocarditis (99.3% vs 99.7%; P = .604) were similar between the eras.

CONCLUSIONS: Artificial cordal repair for all patients with degenerative MR simplifies MV repair and yields equivalent, excellent outcomes compared with a tailored resectional approach.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)464-473
Number of pages10
JournalThe Annals of thoracic surgery
Volume110
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Aged
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures/methods
  • Chordae Tendineae/surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitral Valve/surgery
  • Mitral Valve Insufficiency/surgery
  • Polytetrafluoroethylene
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sutures
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

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