OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to demonstrate that papillary muscle repositioning is a reliable technique to repair anterior leaflet prolapse. Therefore we describe this technique and its long term results to propose it as a gold standard. METHOD: Between 1989 and 2005, 120 mitral valve repairs were consecutively performed using papillary muscle repositioning in cases of anterior leaflet prolapse. There were 87 males and 33 females, the mean age was 59 ± 11.5 years. 59% of patients were in NYHA III or IV. Mean ejection fraction was 65.7 ± 8.9%. Predominant aetiology of mitral regurgitation (MR) was degenerative: Barlow (n=43) and dystrophic (n=62). The other aetiologies were: healed endocarditis (n=5), rheumatic (n=5), ischemic (n=4), congenital (n=1). A posterior papillary muscle repositioning was performed in 111 (92.5%) cases and an anterior in 38 (31.7%). Associated procedures were carried out in 76 (63.3%) patients. RESULTS: There were no in-hospital deaths. During the follow-up, 14 patients (11.7%) died, including seven (5.8%) due to cardiac causes. The cumulated survival rates at 1, 5, 10 and 15 years were 98.3%, 97.2%, 94.1% and 81.4% respectively. Two patients (1.7%) were reoperated for recurrency of the regurgitation, they underwent a replacement of the valve 1 and 5 years after the repair and died 3 and 6 years, respectively after this replacement. There was no systolic anterior motion. The cumulated survival rates free from reoperation involving the mitral valve at 1, 5, 10 and 15 years were 97.4%, 97.4%, 92.8 % and 86.7% respectively. We did not find any risk factor of mortality or of reoperation. The follow-up was completed for all the patients. After a median follow-up time of 5.9 years (range from 0.1 to 15.6 years) 87 patients were in NYHA class I (72.5%), the echographic control showed no or minimal insufficiency in 89 patients (74.2%), mild insufficiency in eight patients (6.7%) and moderate insufficiency in nine patients (7.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Papillary muscle repositioning is a reliable and safe technique, with excellent clinical and echocardiographic long term results. Therefore we propose it as a gold standard to repair anterior leaflet prolapse.
Heart valve prolapse; Mitral valve insufficiency; Mitral valve
