The superior approach to the mitral valve--is it worthwhile?

• Published in: European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery Vol. 2; no. 5; pp. 372 - 376
• Main Authors: HIRT, S. W, FRIMPONG-BOATENG, K, BORST, H. G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Science B.V 1988; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - epidemiology; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; Electrocardiography; Endocardial and cardiac valvular diseases; Female; Heart; Hemorrhage - etiology; Humans; Incidence; Male; Medical sciences; Methods; Middle Aged; Mitral Valve - surgery; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Postoperative Complications - mortality; Survival Rate; Cardiovascular disease; Surgical approach; Mitral valve; Left atrium; Cardiac valvular disease; Surgery
• ISSN: 1010-7940; 1873-734X
• DOI: 10.1016/1010-7940(88)90015-2

The mitral valve was approached through a modified incision in the roofof the left atrium in 100 consecutive patients to study exposure of thevalve, complications of the method and the incidence of dysrhythmia. Therewere five deaths: one related to difficult atrial closure and another tobreakdown of the atrial suture line. Two major and two minor non-fatalhaemorrhagic complications occurred. Exposure of the valve was found to besuperior to that of conventional atrial incisions in the great majority ofcases. When comparing the incidence of perioperative dysrhythmia in our 100patients with that of 56 patients approached through the conventionalatrial incisions, no significant differences were found even though thesinus node artery is likely to be divided when incising the roof of theleft atrium.