Folding Valvuloplasty Without Leaflet Resection: Simplified Method for Mitral Valve Repair

The 'respect rather than resect' principle in mitral valve repair: the lateral dislocation of the P2 technique

BACKGROUND

Leaflet resection represents the reference standard for surgical treatment of mitral valve (MV) regurgitation. New approaches recently proposed place emphasis on respecting, rather than resecting, the leaflet tissue to avoid the drawbacks of the 'resection' approach.

OBJECTIVES

The lateral dislocation of mid portion of mitral posterior leaflet (P2) technique for MV repair is a nonresectional technique in which the prolapsed P2 segment is sutured to normal P1 segment. Our study evaluates the effectiveness of this technique.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed the procedure on seven patients. Once ring annular sutures were placed, the prolapsed P2 segment was dislocated toward the normal P1 segment with a rotation of 90° and without any resection. If present, residual clefts between P2 and P3 segments were closed. Once the absence of residual mitral regurgitation is confirmed by saline pressure test, ring annuloplasty was completed. The valve was evaluated using transesophageal echocardiography in the operating room and by transthoracic echocardiography before discharge.

RESULTS

At the last follow-up visit, transthoracic echocardiography revealed no mitral regurgitation and normal TRANSVALVULAR gradients.

CONCLUSION

The lateral dislocation of P2 is an easily fine-tuned technique for isolated P2 prolapse, with the advantage of short aortic cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times. We think it might be very favorable in older and frail patients. Long-term follow-up is necessary to assess the durability of this technique.

Long term outcomes of posterior leaflet folding valvuloplasty for mitral valve regurgitation

BACKGROUND

Posterior mitral valve leaflet prolapse due to degenerative mitral valve disease has been treated with tissue sparing repair techniques since 2002. The simplified foldoplasty technique effectively lowers the height of the redundant posterior leaflet and creates an optimal coaptation line for the anterior leaflet that results in excellent long term durability, freedom from reoperation, and return of functional status.

METHODS

Patient demographics and in-hospital outcome data were extracted from electronic medical records of 229 patients, aged 60.6±13.7 years who underwent the procedure for mitral valve repair (MVR) involving the posterior leaflet from myxomatous disease between 2002 and 2014. Parametric analyses were performed on outcomes data, while long-term survival was assessed by Kaplan-Meier analyses.

RESULTS

Concomitant coronary bypass surgery was performed on 32/229 (14%) patients, the mean perfusion time was 119±40 min, and the mean cross clamp time was 86±31 min. Post-operative mortality was 2/229 (0.9%), reoperation for bleeding occurred in 4 (1.7%) and postoperative stroke in 4 (1.7%) patients. Long term follow up rate was 100% and the mean study follow-up duration was 6.8±2.3 years. Overall late mortality rate was 24/229 (14.9%), and mitral valve re-intervention was performed on 7 patients (4.3%). NYHA class III/IV and clinically significant MR at follow up were significantly lower compared to preoperative values (both P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results encourage further use of this simple and effective technique in patients with isolated posterior leaflet prolapse.

Parannular Elliptical Posterior Resection: A Low-Impact Reparative Technique for Mitral Valve Prolapse

OBJECTIVE

Although effective, Carpentier technique for mitral regurgitation presents two "Achille's heel": the resection of the whole prolapsing section of posterior mitral leaflet (PML) including chordae tendinae and the annular distortion due to plication. An alternative technique of limited PML resection, which preserves mitral anatomy decreasing the impact on valve function, and 9-year outcome are presented.

METHODS

Since April 2005 till March 2014, of 205 patients affected by mitral prolapse scheduled for repair (mitral valve repair), 54 patients have been included in the study. The rationale of the new technique was to limit PML resection to achieve a fair reduction of the prolapsing scallop(s) height, to avoid leaflet and annular distortion, and to spare the coaptation surface and other substantial structures. According to the observation that the posterior smooth zone of PML is quite free from chordal insertions, an elliptical slice of tissue was resected from this area. Annuloplasty and neochordal insertion when indicated completed the procedure.

RESULTS

Up to 9 years of follow-up was 98% complete. One in-hospital death, two late noncardiac deaths, one redo operation due to endocarditis were reported. On late follow-up, 92% patients were on New York Heart Association class I. Late echocardiography showed stability of repair (regurgitation grade of ≤1 in 92% of patients). Nearly two third of valves preserved good PML mobility.

CONCLUSIONS

The parannular elliptical posterior leaflet resection, providing excellent stable midterm results, seems to be a safe alternative method for repair of PML prolapse. It avoids distortion and weakening of annulus and leaflet, and it allows restoring a proper coaptation surface and maintains a satisfactory PML motion.

Repair of posterior mitral valve prolapse with a novel leaflet plication clip in an animal model

OBJECTIVE

Recently, there has been increased interest in minimally invasive mitral valve prolapse repair techniques; however, these techniques have limitations. A new technique was developed for treating mitral valve prolapse that uses a novel leaflet plication clip to selectively plicate the prolapsed leaflet segment. The clip's efficacy was tested in an animal model.

METHODS

Yorkshire pigs (n = 7) were placed on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and mitral valve prolapse was created by cutting chordae supporting the P2 segment of the posterior leaflet. Animals were weaned off CPB and mitral regurgitation (MR) was assessed echocardiographically. CPB was reinitiated and the plication clip was applied under direct vision to the P2 segment to eliminate the prolapse. The animals survived for 2 hours. Epicardial echocardiography was obtained before and after prolapse creation and 2 hours after clip placement to quantify MR grade and vena contracta area. Posterior leaflet mobility and coaptation height were analyzed before and after clip placement.

RESULTS

There were no cases of clip embolization. Median MR grade increased from trivial (0-1.5) to moderate-severe after MR creation (2.5-4+) (P < .05), and decreased to mild after clip placement (0-3+) (P < .05). Vena contracta area tended to increase after cutting the chordae and decrease after clip placement: 0.08 ± 0.10 cm(2) versus 0.21 ± 0.15 cm(2) versus 0.16 ± 0.16 cm(2) (P = .21). The plication clip did not impair leaflet mobility. Coaptation height was restored to baseline: 0.51 ± 0.07 cm versus 0.44 ± 0.18 cm (P = 1.0).

CONCLUSIONS

The leaflet plication clip can treat mitral valve prolapse in an animal model, restoring coaptation height without affecting leaflet mobility. This approach is a simple technique that may improve the effectiveness of beating-heart and minimally invasive valve surgery.

Chordae replacement versus leaflet resection in minimally invasive mitral valve repair

For many years, the quadrangular resection technique first proposed by Carpentier has become the gold standard for repair of posterior leaflet prolapse of the mitral valve (MV). Although this "resection" technique and its modifications are safe and very effective, they do not respect the anatomy of the MV and the physiological role of the posterior leaflet. Therefore some new techniques, aiming to preserve MV leaflets to a different extent, have been proposed. With the use of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), neochordae leaflet preserving techniques for posterior MV prolapse treatment have emerged. The aim of these techniques is to support the free edge of the prolapsing segments and thereby restore the physiologic function of the MV. A simplified modification of this technique using premeasured ePTFE loops ("loop technique") was successfully introduced to ease the implantation of neochordae, especially in the setting of minimally invasive MV surgery. While "resection" techniques are associated with excellent long-term results, there is evolving evidence in favor of "non-resection" techniques supporting the concept of a "respect rather than resect" approach.

Early outcome of folding mitral valve repair technique without resection for mitral valve prolapse in 60 patients

OBJECTIVES

Leaflet resection represents the reference standard for mitral valve regurgitation. However, the resection technique is irreversible and requires leaflet cutting and reapproximation. Folding mitral valve repair is a nonresectional technique with inversion of the prolapsed segment into the left ventricle. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of this technique.

METHODS

The prolapsed segment was inverted into the left ventricle vertically. A pilot suture was placed at the free edge of the leaflet. After confirming no mitral valve regurgitation with a pressure test, additional sutures were placed toward the annulus. If the test still showed mitral valve regurgitation, the suture was removed and repositioned. Ring annuloplasty was performed in all patients, except those with active infectious endocarditis. The repaired mitral valve was evaluated using echocardiography.

RESULTS

A total of 60 patients (37 men; mean age, 62.4 years) underwent folding mitral valve repair from January 2007 to September 2011. Of these patients, 38 (63%) had moderate and 18 (30%) had severe mitral valve regurgitation preoperatively. Folding mitral valve repair was applied to the anterior leaflet and posterior leaflet. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time and crossclamp time were 148 and 90 minutes, respectively. No patient had systolic anterior motion. Postoperative echocardiography revealed no mitral valve regurgitation to trivial mitral valve regurgitation in 48 and mild mitral valve regurgitation in 12 patients. No patient required reoperation for recurrent mitral valve regurgitation.

CONCLUSIONS

Folding mitral valve repair is an easily fine-tuned technique with a pilot suture, which can be easily removed and repositioned, if unsatisfactory. This reversibility is a significant advantage of this technique. Long-term follow-up is necessary to assess the durability of this technique.

Folding mitral valvuloplasty without posterior leaflet resection for calcified mitral annulus

Mitral valve annular calcification has long been a challenge in repairing posterior mitral valve prolapse. Folding valvuloplasty of the posterior leaflet without resection provides a means of circumventing common procedural complications. This report demonstrates the success of folding valvuloplasty without resection in the treatment of mitral valve prolapse and severe annular calcification.

Saddle-shape annuloplasty increases mitral leaflet coaptation after repair for flail posterior leaflet

BACKGROUND

The primary goal of surgical mitral repair is the reestablishment of normal leaflet coaptation. Surgical techniques that maintain or restore leaflet geometry promote leaflet coaptation. Recent 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiographic studies have shown that saddle-shaped annuloplasty has a salutary influence on leaflet geometry. Therefore we hypothesized that saddle-shaped annuloplasty would improve leaflet coaptation in cases of repair for flail posterior leaflet segments.

METHODS

Sixteen patients with flail posterior segment and severe mitral regurgitation had valve repair using standard techniques. Eight patients received saddle-shaped annuloplasty and 8 patients received flat annuloplasty. Real-time 3D transesophageal echocardiography was performed before and after repair. Images were analyzed using custom software to calculate mitral annular area (MAA), septolateral dimension (SLD), intercommissural width (CW), total leaflet area (TLA), and leaflet coaptation area (LCA).

RESULTS

Postrepair MAA (flat, 588.6±26.5 mm2; saddle, 628.0±35.3 mm2; p=0.12) and TLA (flat, 2198.5±151.6 mm2; saddle, 2303.9±183.8 mm2; p=0.67) were similar in both groups. Postrepair LCA was significantly greater in the saddle group than in the flat group (226.8±24.0 mm2 and 154.0±13.0 mm2, respectively; p=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Real-time 3D echocardiography and novel imaging software provide a powerful tool for analyzing mitral leaflet coaptation. When compared with flat annuloplasty, saddle-shaped annuloplasty improves LCA after mitral valve repair for severe mitral regurgitation secondary to flail posterior leaflet segment. Use of saddle-shaped annuloplasty devices may increase repair durability.

Tent-shape technique: another procedure to repair P2 of posterior leaflet of mitral valve

In this report, we describe a new procedure to repair the prolapsing high mid-scallop of the mitral valve (MV) posterior leaflet (P2) with detailed consideration of the anatomy and physiology of the MV. A new artificial chord is implanted in the body of the P2 at the same height of non-prolapsing P1 and P3, and the remaining part of the prolapsing P2 is anchored to the artificial chord taking the shape of a tent.

Midterm outcome of leaflet folding plasty for mitral regurgitation due to posterior leaflet prolapse

OBJECTIVE

Leaflet folding plasty was introduced as an effective technique to avoid systolic anterior motion (SAM) after mitral valve repair. The purpose of this study was to investigate the midterm outcome of leaflet folding plasty following a review of our 10-year experience.

METHODS

Between October 1997 and May 2008, a total of 45 patients with mitral valve regurgitation due to posterior leaflet prolapse were operated on using leaflet folding plasty (63% of posterior leaflet repair and 28% of overall mitral valve repair during the same period). The group comprised 29 men and 16 women, with a mean age of 63.2 years. There were 44 patients with degenerative valve disease and 1 with healed infective endocarditis. The prolapsed scallop were P1 in 1, P2 in 33, and P3 in 11 patients. Anterior mitral leaflet involvement was seen in two patients.

RESULTS

Mitral valve repair was performed in all patients. SAM with residual mitral regurgitation was observed in two patients, with one requiring intraoperative revision. The 30-day mortality was 2.2% (one patient died from intestinal complications). The mean follow-up period for survivors was 38.1 months (range 1-127 months). The 1- and 5-year actuarial survival rates were 97.8% and 93.7%, respectively. None of the patients required reoperation during follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Midterm outcome of leaflet folding plasty for mitral valve repair was satisfactory. This technique accomplishes mitral valve repair safely in patients with mitral regurgitation due to posterior prolapse, with acceptable intermediate-term freedom from reintervention.