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.
Objective To observe the intermediate-term outcome and heart function in patients with small aortic root，and to investigate the feasi bility of small size prosthesis. Methods From July 1990 to Jun e 2003, 62 patients underwent 19mm aortic valve prosthesis(19mm group). The resu lts were compaired with other 62 patients receiving larger prosthesis(≥21 mm,21 mm group). Clinical symptoms, signs, electrocardiogram(ECG) and echocardiogr a phy (UCG) were followedup, KaplanMeier survival curve was used for analysis. Results In 19mm group, there were 38 patients with ≥Ⅱ/Ⅵ grade systolic murmur in aortic valve area,18 patients with ECG ST segm ent change and 11 patients with chest pain and/or chest distress. Postoperative cardiac function showed that 33 patients with heart function New York Heart Ass ociation(NYHA) class Ⅱ and 29 patients with NYHA class Ⅲ. Postoperative ECG sh owed in 21mm group,6 patients with ECG ST segment change,3 patients with chest distress and 6 patients with occasional chest pain and there were 48 patients with NYHA class Ⅱ and 14 patients with NYHA class Ⅲ,there was statis tically difference in heart function between two groups（P＝0.020). Th ere was a significant regression of left ventricular end diastolic diameter(LVEDD),left ventricular wall thickness, mass index,and pressure gradients in both groups（P＜0.05）, and left ventricular ejection f raction (LVEF)had a significant increase in patients 5 years after operation tha n that before operation（P＜0.05）, and there was no statistically differenc e in both groups（P＞0.05）. Actual survival at 1,5 years were 93.5%,74 .2% in 19mm group compared with 95.2%,790% in the 21mm valve group, there were no statistically difference in both groups （P=0.231,0.110）. Conc lus ion Patients with 19mm prosthetic aortic valves can experience a satisf actory improvement and get excellent intermediate-term survival.
Objective To investigate the changing tendency of mitral valve coaptation area and coaptation index of moderate mitral regurgitation （MR） in a dog experiment，and provide evidence for predicting long-term surgical results. Methods Real-time three-dimensional transesophogeal echocardiography （RT-3D-TEE） images were obtained in 15 dogs via Philips IE33 echocardiography system，and animal experiment model was established. RT-3D-TEE images were taken by gradually narrowing the ascending aorta and increasing left ventricular pressure till moderate MR. Original data were analyzed using Philips Qlab 7.0 three-dimensional quantification software，and mitral valve coaptation area and coaptation index were calculated. Specimen coaptation index of the mitral leaflets was calculated after the animal experiment. Cutoff values of coaptation index and left ventricular pressure were calculated by receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve. Results There was statistical difference in coaptation area （198±50）mm2 vs. （123±36）mm2，P＜0.05） and coaptationindex （0.25±0.06 vs. 0.13±0.03，P＜0.05） between non-MR state and MR status of the 15 dogs. The area under the ROC curve of coaptation index and moderate MR was 0.879±0.019 with 95% CI 0.843 to 0.916，and the cutoff value was 0.213（P＜0.05）. The area under the ROC curve of left ventricular pressure and moderate MR was 0.882±0.021 swith 95% CI 0.840 to 0.923，and the cutoff value was 225 （P＜0.05）. There was no statistical difference between specimen mitral valve area and early-diastolic mitral leaflet area，specimen coaptation area and coaptation area，specimen coaptation index and coaptation index （P＞0.05）. Early-diastolic mitral leaflet area was significantly correlated with specimen mitral valve area （r=0.937，P＜0.05）. Coaptation area was significantly correlated with specimen coaptation area （r=0.917，P＜0.05）. Coaptation index was significantly correlated with specimen coaptation index （r=0.946，P＜0.05）. The correlation of coaptation index and specimen coaptation index was higher than those of coaptation area and specimen coaptation area，and earlydiastolic mitral leaflet area and specimen mitral valve area. Conclusions Both coaptation area and coaptation index significantly decrease in MR status. Coaptation index can more precisely reflect MR degree，and provide reference for prognosis of mitral valve repair. RT-3D TEE can accurately measure mitral valve coaptation area and coaptation index.