Chordal-sparing mitral valve replacement: pitfalls and techniques to prevent complications

• Published in: European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery Vol. 24; no. 4; pp. 650 - 652
• Main Authors: Sasaki, Hideki, Ihashi, Kenji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Science B.V 01.10.2003; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Chordae Tendineae - surgery; Chordal-sparing mitral valve replacement; Chronic Disease; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation - methods; Humans; Medical sciences; Mitral Valve - surgery; Mitral Valve Insufficiency - surgery; Postoperative Complications - prevention & control; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the heart; Chordal-sparing mitral valve replacement; Prevention; Mitral valve; Treatment; Heart disease; Surgery; Cardiovascular disease; Complication; Replacement; Technique
• ISSN: 1010-7940; 1873-734X
• DOI: 10.1016/S1010-7940(03)00457-3

When feasible, mitral valve repair is the usual treatment of choice for correction of chronic mitral insufficiency. When valve replacement is required, chordal sparing is the preferred technique. Many investigators have pointed out the merits of preserving the subvalvular apparatus during mitral valve replacement. However, many surgeons hesitate to perform chordal-sparing mitral valve replacement because of its technical complexity and potential interference with mechanical valve leaflet motion. We present a modified technique of chordal-sparing mitral valve replacement to avoid these problems.