Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery for mitral valve prolapse: a comparison between fibro-elastic deficiency and Barlow's disease

OBJECTIVES

Within the spectrum of degenerative mitral valve (MV) prolapse, Barlow's disease remains a risk factor for suboptimal long-term outcomes after MV repair (MVr). This study reports on the results of MVr through minimally invasive surgery benchmarking patients with Barlow's disease to fibro-elastic deficiency (FED).

METHODS

Between July 2008 and December 2021, 246 patients underwent MVr for degenerative MV prolapse via minimally invasive surgery, including 180 FED and 66 Barlow patients. Study end-points focused on 10-year survival, MV reoperation and recurrence of MV regurgitation ≥grade 2.

RESULTS

Barlow patients were significantly younger (Barlow: 58 years (IQR 47-67); FED: 68 years (IQR 60-76), P < 0.001), showing more complex MV prolapse than FED patients. The overall 30 day-mortality was 0.4%. Survival at 10 years was 78.8 ± 11.3% and 64.5 ± 7.4% (P = 0.161) in Barlow and FED patients, respectively. The cumulative incidence of MV reoperation at 10 years was comparable between Barlow and FED patients (FED: 9.7 ± 3.1%; Barlow: 8.0 ± 4.7%, P = 0.645). The cumulative incidence of mitral regurgitation recurrence ≥grade 2 was 3.0 ± 1.4% and 6.8 ± 3.1% at 5 and 10 years overall. Mitral regurgitation recurrence rate at 10 years was higher in Barlow patients, but the difference was not significant (FED: 3.3 ± 1.7% at 10 years; Barlow: 11.1 ± 8.7% at 10 years, P = 0.765).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite more extensive MV prolapse in Barlow patients, MVr through minimally surgical access can be achieved with a mid-term outcome comparable to patients with FED. Concentrating the expertise to increase the individual surgeon's experience for surgical approach as the MV procedure itself allowed to achieve outcome results concurrent with those reported by high-volume centres.

Artificial Neochordae for Tricuspid Valve Repair in Adults: A Review

Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) neochordae are predominantly used for mitral valve repair (MVr), while the frequency of their employment in tricuspid valve surgery is not well assessed. We have performed a review of the available literature to verify incidence, indications, techniques, and outcomes of the use of artificial neochordae in a variety of tricuspid valve pathologies. We found a total of 57 articles reporting the use of ePTFE sutures in patients in whom tricuspid valve repair (TVr) was performed. From such articles, adequate information on the basic disease, surgical techniques, and outcomes could be obtained in 45 patients in whom the indication to the use of neochordae was posttraumatic tricuspid regurgitation (n = 24), infective endocarditis (n = 8), congenital valvular disease (n = 6), valve injury during cardiac neoplasm excision (n = 3) or following repeated endomyocardial biopsies after heart transplantation (n = 3), and tricuspid valve prolapse (n = 1). Implant techniques generally replicated those currently employed for MVr using artificial neochordae. There were no reported hospital deaths with stability of repair in most cases at follow-up controls. TVr using ePTFE neochordae has been reported so far in a limited number of patients. Nevertheless, it appears a feasible and reproducible technique to be added routinely to the surgical armamentarium during TVr.

A new device to treat mitral valve regurgitation: a proof of concept in bench test study

Mitral valve repair is typically performed by implanting a ring-like device at the valve annulus to reshape the annulus and to improve leaflet coaptation. In most cases, some additional procedures are needed, including leaflet resection and artificial chordae implantation. However, artificial chordae implantation could be technically challenging and postoperative left ventricular remodeling could increase the risk of recurrent mitral regurgitation. We propose an innovative annular device made of chromo-cobalt, finalized not only to reshape the annulus but also to enable anchoring of leaflets to a fixed intraventricular structure. Durability evaluation of the device was tested by applying eight radial force vectors equally spaced along the ring and related fatigue analysis. To evaluate the efficacy of the mitral valvuloplasty using the tested ring, the device was implanted in five adult swine hearts. Functional analysis of the ring was performed by measuring left ventricular pressure and fluid volume loss, following implantation in normal and dysfunctional mitral valve leaflets. Both fatigue and functional analysis showed satisfactory and promising results in terms of durability and efficacy of mitral valve repair. Because of its favorable durability and functional characteristics this device appears promising and provides good results in terms of valve competence, thus avoiding both manipulations of papillary muscles and interference in left ventricular hemodynamics. However, an in vivo test is mandatory to fully understand the impact of the device on subvalvular apparatus.

Antegrade Cardioplegia Decannulation Made Simple With the Cor-Knot System: Technique and Tips After 20 Consecutive and Controlled Patients

Closing the cardioplegia cannulation site can be challenging in minimally invasive video-assisted cardiac surgery. The Cor-Knot system is used to tie down valve sutures within the heart efficiently, although erosions to neighboring structures are reported. We hypothesized that a modification of the Cor-Knot system could enable safe hemostasis of the cardioplegia aortic root site and avoid erosions of the aorta or right atrium. This is a single-arm prospective study including 20 consecutive patients operated through a video-assisted method at our clinic between January 2019 and February 2019. At the end of the procedure, the suture was passed through a Cor-Knot device and crimped on a band of Teflon-felt. The two tips of the Teflon-felt toward the right atrium were put together and tightened with a 5/0 Prolene suture in order to protect the sharp ends of the device. Hemostasis was achieved using the technique in all 20 patients, with no requirement for further suture placement to ensure hemostasis of the cardioplegia cannulation site. The device was protected from the right atrial appendage and there was no bleeding. At 6-month follow-up, no patients required a reoperation for aortic or right atrial erosion. The Cor-Knot system was used off-label to close the cardioplegia cannulation site in minimally invasive surgery. This appears safe and effective in our initial 20-patient experience.