Objective To summarize the clinical experiences of the application of posterior leaflet chordal transfer in the treatment of anterior mitral leaflet prolapse, and to investigate the best time for mitral valve repair. Methods From October 2004 to October 2008, 16 patients with anterior mitral leaflet prolapse underwent mitral valve repair. The echocardiography diagnosis revealed that 10 patients had chordal rupture, 4 had chordal elongation, 2 had both rupture and elongation. And there were 3 with A1 segment prolapse, 6 with A2 segment prolapse, 3 with A3 segment prolapse, 2 with both A1 and A2 segment prolapse, 2 with both A2 and A3 segment prolapse. All the patients underwent posterior leaflet chordal transfer, and one of them with coronary artery disease underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. Results There was no operative death. The echocardiography examination revealed that there were 2 patients with mild regurgitation, 6 with trivial regurgitation and 8 with no regurgitation before discharge. The patients received nticoagulation treatment of warfarin for 3 months after discharge. All the patients were followed up for 1-46 months(22.0±3.5 months). The echocardiography examination showed that there were 3 patients with mild regurgitation, 7 with trivial regurgitation and 6 with no regurgitation. There were 12 patients with New York Heart Association(NYHA) classⅠ, and 4 with class Ⅱ. The left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) was lower than that before operation(53.0%±3.4％ vs.65.0%±4.2％,P=0.013),and there was no statistical significance compared with that before operation(61.0%±2.1％vs.65.0%±4.2％, P=0.110). The left ventricular end diastolic diameter decreased significantly compared with that before operation(50.0±3.2 mm, 47.0%±2.8 mm vs.580±6.5 mm，P=0.031，0020). The postoperative cardiac function improved significantly (P=0.002). Conclusion Posterior leaflet chordal transfer is an effective method for anterior mitral leaflet prolapse. The best time for mitral valve repair is when LVEF＞60%, left ventricle enlarges a little, and NYHA class＞Ⅲ before operation.
ObjectiveTo summarize our clinical experience and improve clinical outcomes of chordal transfer and artificial chordae in mitral valvuloplasty (MVP). MethodsClinical data of 74 patients who received chordal transfer or artificial chordae in MVP for the treatment of anterior mitral leaflet prolapse[degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR)] from January 2008 to February 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 34 male and 40 female patients with their age of 22-64 (48.00±6.40)years. According to different surgical techniques, all the 74 patients were divided into 2 groups. In the chordal transfer group, there were 42 patients who received chordal transfer with posterior leaflet chordae transferred to anterior leaflet. In the artificial chordae group, there were 32 patients who received artificial chordae with loop technique. Postoperative mortality, morbidity and MR were analyzed. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD)and end-systolic diameter (LVESD)were examined by echocardiography during follow-up. ResultsThere was no perioperative death in either group. Two patients underwent reexploration for postoperative bleeding. Nine patients had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation postoperatively, and were cured by intravenous administration of amiodarone. Echocardiography before discharge showed mild MR in 5 patients, trivial MR in 12 patients, and none MR in 25 patients in the chordal transfer group, and mild MR in 6 patients, trivial MR in 15 patients and none MR in 11 patients in the artificial chordae group. Seventy patients[94.59%(70/74)] were followed up after discharge. In both groups, LVEF at 6 months after MVP was significantly higher than that before discharge (chordal transfer group:64.00%±4.20% vs. 55.00%±5.10%; artificial chordae group:63.00%±3.50% vs. 56.00%±4.20%). LVEDD (chordal transfer group:47.00±2.20 mm vs. 58.00±6.90 mm; artificial chordae group:45.00±3.80 mm vs. 57.00±5.10 mm, P < 0.05)and LVESD at 6 months after MVP were significantly smaller than preoperative values. There was no statistical difference in LVEF, LVEDD or LVESD preop-eratively, before discharge and 6 months after MVP respectively between the chordal transfer group and artificial chordae group (P > 0.05). One patient in the chordal transfer group underwent mitral valve replacement for severe MR 14 months after MVP. One patient in the artificial choadae group underwent mitral valve replacement for persistent hemoglobinuria 6 months after MVP. ConclusionChordal transfer and artificial chordae technique are both suitable for the treatment of complex anterior leaflet prolapse. Artificial chordae has wider range of application, and chordae transfer needs advanced and flexible surgical skills. Both techniques have good short-term clinical outcomes and deserve clinical application.