Objective To investigate surgical strategies using bilateral pectoralis major muscle flaps for the treatment of sternal dehiscence after cardiac surgery. Methods From May 2005 to October 2010，21 patients with sternal dehiscence, sternal osteomyelitis and mediastinitis after cardiac surgery were admitted to Beijing An Zhen Hospital of Capital Medical University. There were 13 male patients and 8 female patients with their age of 53-72 （64.5±7.8） years. There were 19 patients after coronary artery bypass grafting （CABG） and 2 patients after heart valve replacement. The non-viable and necrotic bones were debrided and sternal wires partially or completely removed. The sternal origins of pectoralis major were released on both sides. The pectoralis major muscle flaps were tensionlessly sutured across medially over the sternal defect. Multiple suction drains were placed and removed in due time. The skin was intermittently closed. Results All the pectoralis major muscle flaps lived well after surgery，and all the patients were discharged in 2 weeks after surgery. Twenty patients were discharged with complete wound closure，and 1 patient had wound fistula and infection after removal of suction drains that was healed after another surgery to resect the wound fistula. During 6 month follow-up，sternal wound healed well in all the patients with normal thoracic appearance，and none of the patients had abnormal respiratory movement, infection recurrence or persistent infection. Conclusion Bilateral pectoralis major muscle flap technique is a positive and efficient surgical strategy for the treatment of refractory sternal dehiscence after cardiac surgery.
Objective To summarize surgical techniques，advantages and clinical outcomes of mitral valvuloplasty for anterior mitral leaflet prolapse with looped artificial chordae. Methods Clinical data of 13 patients with anteriormitral leaflet prolapse and severe mitral regurgitation （MR） who underwent mitral valvuloplasty with looped artificial chordaefrom January 2009 to December 2011 in Beijing Anzhen Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. There were 8 male and 5 female patients with their age of 21-61 （39.5±12.9） years. There were 10 patients with anterior mitral leaflet chordal rupture and 3 patients with anterior mitral leaflet elongation. Preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic diameter （LVEDD） was 52-65 （58.3±1.7） mm，and left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF） was 53%-65% （58.8%±2.8%）. All the patients underwent mitral valvuloplasty. We measured the neighboring normal chordae with a caliper for reference and constructed the artificial chordal loops on the caliper with expended polytetrafluoroethylene（ePTFE） CV4 Gore-Tex suture lines. Three to five loops were made and fixed to the papillary muscle with a Gore-Tex suture line and the free edge of the prolapsedanterior mitral leaflet with another Gore-Tex suture line，with the intervals between the loops of 5 mm. Left ventricular watertesting was performed to evaluate MR status，annuloplasty ring implantation or “edge to edge” technique was used if nece-ssary，and left ventricular water testing was performed again to confirm satisfactory closure of the mitral valve. Patientsreceived re-warming on cardiopulmonary bypass and the heart incision was closed. The effect of mitral annuloplasty was alsoassessed by transesophageal echocardiography （TEE） after heart rebeating. Warfarin anticoagulation was routinely used for 3 months after discharge. Results There was no perioperative death in this group. Twelve patients received satisfactory outcomes after 1-stage mitral valvuloplasty with looped artificial chordae and annuloplasty ring implantation. One patient didn’t receive satisfactory outcomes in the left ventricular water testing after mitral valvuloplasty with looped artificial chordae，but satisfactory outcome was achieve after “edge to edge” technique was used，and annuloplasty ring was not used for this patient. Postoperative echocardiography showed trivial to mild MR in all the patients，their LVEDD was significantly reducedthan preoperative LVEDD （47.5±2.1 mm vs. 58.3±1.7 mm，P＜0.05），and there was no statistical difference between postoperative and preoperative LVEF（58.5%±2.6% vs. 58.8%±2.8%，P＞0.05）. All the patients were followed up for 3-36 （19.5±3.7） months. Echocardiography showed mild MR in 4 patients and none or trivial MR in 9 patients during follow-up.Conclusion Mitral valvuloplasty with looped artificial chordae is an effective surgical technique for the treatment of anterior mitral leaflet prolapse with satisfactory clinical outcomes，and this technique is also easy to perform.