Artificial Chordal Replacement Research Articles

A review of the development of interventional devices for mitral valve repair with the implantation of artificial chords.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) was the most common heart valve disease. Surgical repair with artificial chordal replacement had become one of the standard treatments for mitral regurgitation. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) was currently the most commonly used artificial chordae material due to its unique physicochemical and biocompatible properties. Interventional artificial chordal implantation techniques had emerged as an alternative treatment option for physicians and patients in treating mitral regurgitation. Using either a transapical or a transcatheter approach with interventional devices, a chordal replacement could be performed transcatheter in the beating heart without cardiopulmonary bypass, and the acute effect on the resolution of mitral regurgitation could be monitored in real-time by transesophageal echo imaging during the procedure. Despite the in vitro durability of the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material, artificial chordal rupture occasionally occurred. In this article, we reviewed the development and therapeutic results of interventional devices for chordal implantation and discuss the possible clinical factors responsible for the rupture of the artificial chordal material.

Leaflet plication with neochordae implantation: A novel technique for mitral valve repair.

Leaflet plication with neochordae implantation: A novel technique for mitral valve repair.

Mitral valve repair for extreme billowing and prolapsing valve

ObjectivesWe describe our method and results of mitral valve repair up to 20 years in a defined group of patients with mitral regurgitation caused by an extreme billowing and prolapsing valve. MethodsAn extreme billowing and prolapsing valve was defined by the presence of excess tissue on both leaflets and prolapse of 2 or more of the 3 segments of each leaflet. Among 1344 consecutive patients who underwent mitral valve repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation between 1991 and 2012 at the Sakakibara Heart Institute, 73 patients met our definition of an extreme billowing and prolapsing valve. From these 73 patients, 67 patients who underwent mitral valve repair based on the surgical strategy we developed in July 1996 were enrolled in this study. Our strategy of mitral valve repair for extreme billowing and prolapsing valves consists of (1) volume reduction of the leaflets, (2) physiologic remodeling annuloplasty for long anterior leaflet, and (3) wide usage of artificial chordae. ResultsMean age of the patients was 46.6 ± 12.9 years. There were no hospital deaths and 6 late deaths in this series. Kaplan–Meier survival at 10 years was 96.8 ± 2.2%. There were 2 reoperations. Cumulative incidence rate of mitral valve reoperation and moderate or severe mitral regurgitation at 10 years was 1.8 ± 1.8% and 11.2 ± 4.0%. Number of artificial chordal replacement was associated with decreased risk of recurrent moderate mitral regurgitation (hazard ratio, 0.60; P = .03). ConclusionsLong-term echo follow-up demonstrates good results of mitral valve repair for extreme billowing and prolapsing valves using our strategy.

Reverse remodeling of left heart following mitral valve repair in case of mesenchimal dysplasia

Objectives. Volume overload in mitral regurgitation leads to compensatory dilation of the left heart chambers. Surgical correction promotes reverse remodeling of the heart. In this study, focus was placed on the changes in the left heart resulted from mitral regurgitation correction by using two different surgical techniques for mitral valve repair. Methods. 94 patients with posterior mitral valve prolapse were randomized in two groups. The first group patients underwent artificial chordal replacement, while a leaflet resection technique was used for the patients of the second group. Preoperative transthoracic and intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography was performed for all patients and data were obtained at 10-12 days after surgery and during long-term follow up. Results. In the early postoperative period, significant reverse remodeling of the left heart chambers was observed (LA 5.4-4.6, p <0.05; LVEDD 5.8-4.9 p <0.05; LVESD 3.6 - 3.1 p <0.05) - LA 5.2 - 4.5 p <0.05; LVEDD 5.8 - 4.8 p <0.05; LVESD 3.5 - 3.2 p <0.05. The mitral valve orifice area in the groups was 3.3 - 3.3 - 3.2 when replacing chords and 3.5 - 3.4 - 3.2 when doing resection, with p being equal to 0.32, 0.36 and 0.51 respectively. The mean diastolic gradient in the first group was 2.0 - 3.0 - 3.0 mm Hg, while in the second one it amounted to 2.3 - 3.2 - 3.3 mmHg, with p <0.05. Conclusion. The authors conclude that significant remodeling of the left heart occurs in the early postoperative period. In the immediate postoperative period, the mitral valve area tends to decrease and the gradient has a tendency to increase in both groups, with no significant changes observed in the late postoperative period.

A Simple Technique for Preparation of Artificial Chordal Loops With a Strip of Paper

Artificial chordal replacement with polytetrafluoroethylene suture lines is a well-accepted technique for mitral valve repair. This report presents a method of making chordal loops of the desired length using a strip of paper. This technique uses a simple, cost-free, and easily obtained material--a strip of paper--to prepare artificial chordal loops with its advantages.

Long-term outcomes of artificial chordal replacement with tourniquet technique in mitral valve repair: A single-center experience of 700 cases

Artificial chordal replacement has been shown to be effective and durable, with numerous techniques reported. However, the outcomes of each technique have remained poorly defined. We report the long-term outcomes of the tourniquet technique. We reviewed the data from 700 patients who had undergone mitral valve repair with the tourniquet technique from 1992 to 2010. We analyzed the operative outcomes, long-term survival rate, freedom from reoperation, and freedom from recurrent moderate or severe mitral regurgitation (MR). We also performed Cox regression analysis to explore the predictors of recurrent MR after mitral valve repair using the tourniquet technique. The mean age was 54.7±14.9 years; 212 patients (30.3%) had anterior leaflet prolapse, 142 (20.3%) had posterior leaflet prolapse, and 346 (49.4%) had bileaflet prolapse. Operative mortality was 1.3%. In 26 cases (3.7%), mitral valve repair was unsuccessful and was converted to replacement. Of those successfully repaired, the 12-year survival rate, freedom from mitral reoperation, freedom from recurrent moderate or severe MR, and freedom from recurrent leaflet prolapse was 85.9%, 88.7%, 72.3%, and 89.0%, respectively. The significant predictors of recurrent MR were anterior leaflet prolapse, age, New York Heart Association class III or IV, left ventricular end-systolic dimension, no annuloplasty ring or band, and postoperative residual mild or greater MR. The tourniquet technique is a simple and effective method to repair leaflet prolapse, with a low incidence of recurrent prolapse. The incidence of recurrent MR was high in the anterior leaflet prolapse group. Age, no annuloplasty ring or band, and residual MR were strong predictors of recurrent MR.

Technique for Chordae Replacement in Mitral Valve Repair

We describe a simple technique for implantation of neochordae in degenerative mitral regurgitation with elongated or ruptured chords. We have successfully performed 102 mitral valve repairs using this technique and achieved mitral valve competency with no more than trace regurgitation. The technique is easy to perform and reproducible.

EReply. Re: eComment. Posterior mitral leaflet chordal replacement in the elderly

Thank you for your comment [1]. We generally select a resection-type repair for posterior leaflet prolapse, even in fibroelastic deficiency or Barlow disease. For fibroelastic deficiencies, however, artificial chordal replacement is applicable. This is because the risk of progressive degeneration is not as high. As you mentioned, the durability of the Gore-Tex chord is excellent. However, stiffening or adhesions can develop as shown by studies with more than 10 years of follow-up. Consequently, we use artificial chords for the posterior leaflet in limited cases only. One such situation is mitral annular calcification (MAC) complicating posterior leaflet prolapse in elderly patients. We are concerned about the effects of MAC progression on the leaflet prolapse. No worsening of the mitral valve was seen on follow-up for more than 7 years. We believe that artificial chordal replacement without removing the MAC is a time-saving, safe, and durable method of mitral repair for elderly patients with posterior leaflet prolapse and MAC. Conflict of interest: none declared.

Long-Term Results of Mitral Valve Repair for Severe Mitral Regurgitation in Infants: Fate of Artificial Chordae

The experience with mitral valve repair for severe mitral regurgitation in infants was retrospectively reviewed. From 1978 to 2009, 15 infant patients (4 boys, 7.2±3.2 months old) underwent mitral valve repair for severe mitral regurgitation. The etiology of mitral regurgitation according to Carpentier classification was type I in 1 patient, type II in 10 patients, and type III in 4 patients. Artificial chordal replacement was performed in 11 patients. The follow-up course was completed in all patients, with a median follow-up period of 10.2 years (range, 2.2 to 33.4 years). There were no operative or in-hospital mortalities. The actuarial survival and freedom from reoperation rates at 10 years were 89% and 65%, respectively. Five patients required redo mitral valve surgery, including 4 patients needing mitral valve replacement. Three of 4 patients with type III mitral regurgitation, caused by congenital subvalvar structural abnormality, required redo mitral valve surgery. In 11 patients who underwent artificial chordal reconstruction, 2 (18%) required mitral valve replacement during the early postoperative period, whereas the remaining patients showed no recurrent mitral regurgitation during the entire study period. The latest echocardiography findings at 7.3 years after the operation showed that the left ventricular diastolic diameter, mitral valve diameter, and ejection fraction were 99.2%±5.0% of normal, 101.7%±13.3% of normal, and 0.741±0.058, respectively. Long-term durability of mitral valve repair for severe mitral regurgitation in infants was satisfactory. Artificial chordal reconstruction is an effective procedure without an elevated risk of late reoperation.

The Rheumatic Mitral Valve and Repair Techniques in Children

The mitral valve is the most commonly affected valve in acute and chronic rheumatic heart disease in the first and second decades of life. Pure or predominant mitral regurgitation with non-significant stenosis (mitral valve area > 1.5 cm(2) on echocardiography) is the most frequently encountered valvular dysfunction in children. In our experience, based on 428 children operated between 1993 and 2011 at our institution, functional classification based on leaflet motion assessed by echocardiography and reconfirmed peroperatively revealed pure annulus dilatation (type I) in 7% of patients, anterior leaflet prolapse (type IIa) in 33%, combination of anterior leaflet pseudoprolapse with restricted motion of the posterior leaflet (type pseudoIIa/IIIp) in 34%, and restricted anterior and posterior leaflet motion (type IIIa/p) in 26%. Patients with type III were older than those with type IIa and type pseudoIIa/IIIp. Different techniques can be used to repair rheumatic mitral valve lesions: prolapse of the anterior leaflet caused by chordal elongation or rupture can be treated by chordal shortening, chordal transfer, or artificial chordal replacement; restricted motion of the anterior and/or posterior leaflet can be treated by commissurotomy, splitting of the papillary muscles, resection of the secondary, or sometimes primary posterior chordae, posterior leaflet free edge suspension, leaflet thinning, and leaflet enlargement using autologous pericardium. Because mitral annulus dilatation is present in almost all patients with mitral regurgitation, concomitant ring annuloplasty offers more stability in valve repair, improving long-term outcome. The major causes for failure of rheumatic mitral valve repair are the presence of ongoing rheumatic inflammation at the time of surgery, use of inappropriate techniques, technical failures requiring early reoperation, lack of concomitant ring annuloplasty, and progression of leaflet and chordal disease further resulting in more leaflet retraction, thickening, and deformity. Freedom from reoperation depends on mitral regurgitation functional type, the type IIa and type pseudoIIa/IIIp having a better long-term outcome than type I and type III, in our series. In conclusion, mitral valve repair should be a preferred strategy in children with rheumatic heart disease whenever feasible, providing stable actuarial survival with fewer thromboembolic complications in a pediatric population noncompliant to anticoagulation.

Increasing Mitral Valve Repair Rates with Nonresectional Techniques

In every common mitral pathology studied to date, repairing the patient's own diseased valve to adequate function has yielded superior long-term results as compared with prosthetic valve replacement with either tissue or mechanical devices. Thus, increasing rates of mitral repair across all valve pathologies would seem to be a logical clinical goal. Techniques for mitral valve repair have undergone continual evolution over the past 50 years. Recently, emphasis has been placed on preserving leaflet surface area and avoiding tissue resection, by combining the methods of Gore-Tex artificial chordal replacement, autologous pericardial leaflet augmentation, and full ring annuloplasty. Using combinations of these three techniques appropriate to the given valve pathology, acute mitral repair rates now are approximating 98% for all common mitral disease etiologies. Simultaneously, operative mortalities for mitral repair have fallen significantly and now are negligible, whereas long-term outcomes using these methods have been increasingly more stable. As a result of innovations from multiple sources, mitral valve surgery has been converted from a higher risk procedure to one of the safest operations in most centers. This review will detail the technical application of "nonresectional" mitral repair approaches to a broad range of mitral disease pathologies.

Significance of mitral valve repair for active-phase infective endocarditis

Mitral valve repair is preferred to replacement in infective endocarditis, but in the active phase, it often requires extensive debridement of infected tissue and complex reconstruction. We investigated 22 consecutive native mitral valve operations during active-phase infective endocarditis. The time from initiation of medical treatment to operation was 16.8 ± 16.4 days. Mitral valve repair was performed in 15 (68.2%) patients, using prosthetic annuloplasty in 14, an autologous pericardial patch in 11, and artificial chordal replacement in 9. Hospital mortality was 9.1% (2 patients), due to subarachnoid hemorrhage and pneumonia. One patient died 26 months after valve replacement due to congestive heart failure. The postoperative left ventricular end-diastolic dimension was significantly smaller (45.7 ± 5.6 vs. 53.3 ± 10.2 mm) and ejection fraction was significantly higher (57.0% ± 14.7% vs. 40.1% ± 8.2%) in patients who underwent valve repair compared to those who had valve replacement. Mitral regurgitation requiring reoperation occurred in 3 patients during follow-up. Mitral valve repair is feasible in active-phase infective endocarditis, and results in improved regression of left ventricular dimensions compared to valve replacement. However, complex mitral valve repair with extensive leaflet resection may not have long-term durability.

A Simple Method of Making Artificial Chordal Loops for Mitral Valve Repair

Artificial chordal replacement with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene is an established technique for mitral valve repair. This report describes a simple technique of using Hegar dilators for making premeasured artificial chordal loops, whether as a single set of loops or as two connected sets of loops arising from the same stem. This technique uses a simple and widely available tool, the Hegar dilator, for preparation of chordal loops and further establishes the repair of opposing two segments of mitral valve by securing only one stem of the neochordae to the papillary muscle.

Robotic Artificial Chordal Replacement for Repair of Mitral Valve Prolapse

Artificial chordal replacement (ACR) has emerged as a superior method of mitral valve repair with excellent early and late efficacy. It is also ideal to combine with robotic techniques for correction of mitral prolapse, and this article presents a current method of robotic Gore-Tex ACR. Patients with isolated posterior leaflet prolapse are approached with the fourth-generation DaVinci robotic system and endoaortic balloon occlusion. A pledgetted anchor stitch is placed in a papillary muscle, and a 2-o Gore-Tex suture is passed through the anchor pledget. After full annuloplasty ring placement, the Gore-Tex suture is woven into the prolapsing segment and positioned temporarily with robotic forceps. Chordal length is then "adjusted" by lengthening or shortening the temporary knot over 1-cm increments as the valve is tested by injection of cold saline into the ventricle. After achieving good leaflet position and valve competence, the chord is tied permanently. The "adjustable" ACR procedure preserves leaflet surface area and produces a competent valve in the majority of patients. Postoperative transesophageal echo shows a large surface area of coaptation. Patient recovery is facilitated by the minimally invasive approach, while long-term stability of similar open ACR techniques have been excellent with a 2% to 3% failure rate over 10 years of follow-up. Robotic Gore-Tex ACR without leaflet resection is a reproducible procedure that simplifies mitral repair for prolapse. The outcomes observed in early robotic applications have been excellent. It is suggested that most patients with simple prolapse might validly be approached in this manner.

Examination of mitral valve repair with port-access method—Aiming at early and less invasive mitral valve repair—

We reviewed the results of mitral valvuloplasty by port-access minimally invasive cardiac surgery to examine the validity of operating during an early phase. From 1988 through March 2007, a total of 126 patients requiring mitral valvuloplasty were treated with port-access minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Their mean age was 51 +/- 13 years, and 88 were male. The operative procedures were resection-suture in 51 cases, artificial chordal replacement in 5 cases, chordal translocation in 3 cases, leaflet plication in 3 cases, and artificial chordal reconstruction by the loop technique in 64 cases. There was one hospital death, and two patients required reoperation at 1 and 21 postoperative days because of hemolysis and intractable systolic anterior motion, respectively. Except for the two patients undergoing reoperation, the duration of the postoperative hospital stay was 9.7 +/- 3 days. The results of the other cases were satisfactory during each follow-up period. Complete valvuloplasty with port-access MIS is thought to be an increasingly important procedure for treating mitral regurgitation.

Clinical results of commissure plication annuloplasty for mitral regurgitation in children

We evaluated the clinical results of commissure plication annuloplasty for mitral regurgitation (MR) in children. Twenty-eight patients underwent a valve repair with commissure plication annuloplasty for MR from 1988 to 2005. The mean age was 2.7 +/- 3.3 years. Several appropriate techniques were combined (cleft closure in 5 patients, chordal shortening in 2 patients, artificial chordal replacement in 4 patients, leaflet fixation in 2 patients, and so on). The mean follow-up period was 6.2 years. There was one operative death (3.6%) and no late deaths. Two patients underwent a second repair 19 and 23 months after their initial repairs. The actuarial freedom from the reoperation rate was 90.4% +/- 0.6% at 10 years. The freedom from moderate MR or more was shown to decrease over time, 87.8% +/- 0.7% at 5 years and 78.0% +/- 11.0% at 10 years. Furthermore, the 10-year freedom from mild MR or more was 56.5% +/- 11.9%. A progression of MR was seen. Most of the residual or recurrent MR cases weighed less than 10 kg at operation. The combination of commissure plication annuloplasty and several appropriate techniques provided adequate results for MR in children. Since a progression of MR was observed, a careful follow-up is therefore needed in such cases.

Intracardiac Calipers for Artificial Chordae Replacement in Mitral Valve Repair

Length adjustment of artificial chordae is crucial in the outcome of anterior mitral valve repair. Herein, a simple and reproducible method of artificial chordal replacement using polytetrafluoroethylene suture is described. With this technique, the length of the neo-chordae is easily decided and the knot can be tied surely without change in the length using only one instrument.

Techniques of Artificial Chordal Replacement for Mitral Valve Repair: Use in Multiple Pathologic Disorders

Techniques of Artificial Chordal Replacement for Mitral Valve Repair: Use in Multiple Pathologic Disorders

Chordal replacement versus quadrangular resection for repair of posterior mitral leaflet prolpase

Objective: The current study compared midterm results of mitral valve repair with artificial chordal replacement versus classic posterior leaflet quadrangular resection in a large group of patients with posterior mitral leaflet prolapse

Chordal Replacement with Temporary Alfieri Stitch for Anterior Leaflet Prolapse

In mitral valve regurgitation due to anterior leaflet prolapse and other complicated lesions, chordal replacement with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene is widely practiced. The most troublesome aspects of this procedure are the determination of the necessary length of the artificial chorda and the tying of the knot. We describe a simple technique for artificial chordal replacement using an Alfieri stitch, that has been successfully applied to 10 patients with anterior leaflet prolapse.