Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of lesions responsible for commissural prolapse, the techniques of valve repair and their tong-term results.Methods: Between 1992 and 2004, 128 mitral valve repairs were consecutively performed for commissural prolapse. There were 86 mates and 42 females, the median age was 57.5 years (range 14-84 years). Forty-six percent of patients were in NYHA III or IV, mean ejection fraction was 61 +/- 9.4%. The diagnosis of commissural prolapse was recognized by preoperative echocardiography in 32% of the patients and was revealed by intraoperative inspection of the valve in the other cases. The site of the prolapse was the posterionnedial commissure (n=94), the anterior commissure (n=30) or both (n=4). The aetiotogies were: infective endocarditis (n=56), degenerative (n=46), ischemic (n=25), congenital mitral regurgitation (n=l). The commissural prolapse was associated with another mitral valvular tension requiring a specific treatment in 61 cases (47.7%). An associated procedure was carried out in 45 patients.Results: The operative treatment of the commissural prolapse included: commissural closure 65 (50.8%), leaflet resection 31 (24.2%), transposition or shortening of chordae 19 (14.8%), reimplantation or shortening of papillary muscles 3 (2.3%), and replacement of the commissural area by a partial mitral homograft 10 (8%). In-hospital mortality included three deaths (2.3%) and four patients (3.1%) were reoperated: three pericardial drainages for hemopericardium and one for mediastinitis. During the follow-up, one patient died (0.8%) from myocardial infarction and eight patients (6.3%) were reoperated including six (4.7%) for recurrent mitrat regurgitation. After a median follow-up time of 76.9 months (range from 15 days to 160 months), 116 patients (90.1%) were in NYHA 1. Echocardiographs showed no or minimal insufficiency in 112 patients (87.5%) and mild or moderate insufficiency in 10 patients (7.8%).Conclusions: The diagnosis of commissural prolapse is difficult by preoperative echocardiography. The aetiology of the mitral disease is variable (endocarditis, degenerative or ischemic mitrat regurgitation). Using a variety of techniques, commissurat prolapse can be repaired with excellent clinical and echographic tong-term results. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

UNLABELLED:The mechanism of insufficiency in rheumatic valve disease includes 1. annulus dilatation and 2. restricted leaflet motion. Aiming at improving the treatment of restriction, augmentation of the anterior mitral leaflet (AML) was achieved with a piece of autologous pericardium.METHODS:between January 1995 and December 1999, out of 274 patients refered for rheumatic mitral disease, 143 patients underwent a repair (52%), 81% of them had pure regurgitation with no stenosis. Ring annuloplasty was performed in all cases. Two techniques used for treating the restrictive componant of the regurgitation were compared in two consecutive cohort of patients: no AML augmentation (n=62) and AML augmentation (n=81). Mean age was 42 + 3 years and all preoperative variables were comparable except for the incidence of redo patients who all underwent AML extension.RESULTS:in hospital mortality was 0.7% (n=1 with AML extension) and there was one early reoperation for a pericardial patch dehiscence. After a mean follow-up of 3.2 years, there was one sudden death (no AML extension). The reoperation rate was lower with (2.5%) than without (12.9%) AML augmentation (p<0.05). Echographic study showed a lower incidence of recurrency of mitral insufficiency when AML augmentation had been performed (grade 2: 9% and grade 3: 3%) as compared to no AML augmentation (grade 2: 35% and grade 3: 14%) (p<0.05). The mitral orifice area was larger (AML augmentation: 2.2 + 0.3 cm2 vs no AML augmentation: 1.8 + 0.4 cm2).CONCLUSION:ring annuloplasty alone failed to correct rheumatic mitral insufficiency in all cases. AML augmentation improved the quality of the repair and decreased the risk of reoperation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the mechanisms of prolapse in ischemic mitral valve regurgitation (MR) and the techniques of valve repair. Methods: Out of 121 patients operated upon for ischemic MR, a prolapse was present in 44 patients (36.4%). The operation was performed emergently in four cases (9.1%) and electively in 40 patients (90.9%). Fifteen patients (34.1%) were operated upon within 60 days following acute myocardial infarction. Results: The diagnosis of prolapse had been overlooked by echography in five cases (11.4%). A commissural area was involved as the site of prolapse in 31 cases (70.4%). The mechanism of prolapse was a papillary muscle (PM) lesion in 38 cases (86.4%) (anterior PM: n = 8, posterior PM n = 36) or a chordal lesion in six cases (13.6%). PM injury was elongation (n = 16), or rupture (total n = 1, partial n = 21, incomplete n = 4). The operative technique was mitral valve repair with Carpentier's techniques in 42 cases (95.5%) or replacement in two cases (4.5%). Hospital mortality was 11.4% (n = 4). The mean follow-up was to 44.7 +/- 29.6 months. Overall survival and freedom from reoperation were 68.3 +/- 9.0 and 89.9 +/- 5.7% at 5 years, respectively. Freedom from MR equal or > grade 2 was 69.7 +/- 9.5% at 5 years. Conclusions: The mechanisms of ischemic mitral valve prolapse were variable and tightly linked to the PM anatomy. A reliable mitral valve repair could be achieved in most cases with acceptable mid-term results. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to assess whether the mitral homograft represents a valuable alternative for complete or partial mitral valve replacement.METHODS:Since 1993, 104 patients underwent mitral homograft replacement surgery. The mean age was 38 +/- 15 years. The causes of mitral valve disease were rheumatic disease (n = 76), infective endocarditis (n = 24), and others (n = 4). Sixty-five of these procedures were total homografts, and 39 were partial homografts.RESULTS:The mean follow-up was 52 +/- 35 months (maximum, 117 months). Overall hospital mortality was 4 (3.8%) of 104 patients and 2.5% versus 8.7% for patients without endocarditis and with endocarditis, respectively (P <.19). There were 9 late deaths (cardiac, 4; noncardiac, 5). There have been 5 early (<3 months) and 10 late reoperations. Of the remaining 77 patients, New York Heart Association class was I in 61, II in 14, and III in 2. Four patients had endocarditis, and 5 had an ischemic or hemorrhagic event. Freedom from major cardiac events was 71% +/- 6% at 8 years (partial at 81% vs total at 63%, P <.19). Among patients with a total homograft, freedom from major cardiac events was 61% +/- 9% and 85% +/- 8% at 6 years in patients younger than and older than 40 years, respectively (P =.09).CONCLUSION:The risk of early dysfunction related to a mismatch between the mitral homograft and the patient's valve is the main pitfall of the technique. Beyond that stage, the results were comparable with those of bioprostheses in a cohort of young patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDYThe mechanism of insufficiency in rheumatic valve disease includes annulus dilatation and restricted leaflet motion. In order to improve the treatment of restriction, the anterior mitral leaflet (AML) can be augmented with a piece of glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium.METHODSBetween January 1995 and December 1999, among 274 patients referred for rheumatic mitral disease, 143 (52%) underwent a valve repair. Of these patients, 81% had pure regurgitation and 19% had significant associated stenosis. Ring annuloplasty was used in all cases. Techniques used to treat the restrictive component of the regurgitation were compared in two consecutive cohorts of patients, either with (n = 62) or without (n = 81) AML augmentation. Mean patient age was 42 +/- 3 years, and all preoperative variables were comparable except for the incidence of redo patients, who all underwent AML extension.RESULTSIn-hospital mortality was 0.7% (n = 1 with AML extension), and there was one early reoperation for pericardial patch dehiscence. After a mean follow up of 3.2 years, there was one sudden death (no AML extension). The reoperation rate was lower with (2.5%) than without (12.9%) AML augmentation (p <0.05). Echocardiography showed a lower incidence in recurrence of mitral insufficiency when AML augmentation was performed (grade 2, 9% versus grade 3, 3%) as compared to no AML augmentation (grade 2, 35% versus grade 3, 14%) (p <0.05). The mitral orifice area was larger (AML augmentation 2.2 +/- 0.3 cm versus no AML augmentation 1.8 +/- 0.4 cm2).CONCLUSIONRing annuloplasty alone failed to correct rheumatic mitral insufficiency in all cases. AML augmentation improved the quality of the repair, and decreased the risk of reoperation.

Objective: Mitral homograft (MH) can represent an interesting alternative for valve replacement in the young. However, concerns have been expressed about the durability of valve allografts in children. We report our experience with MH replacement in young patients. Methods: From 1993 to 1997, 13 young patients aged 3 - 25 years (mean 15 +/- 6 years) underwent total mitral valve (MV) replacement with a cryopreserved homograft (CH). All but one had previously undergone one or more cardiac operations. The indications were rheumatic disease (6), acute and subacute endocarditis (2), congenital heart disease (4), and systemic lupus endocarditis (1). Results: No in hospital deaths are reported. Discharge echocardiogram showed a well-functioning MH in all but one patient. One patient was lost to follow-up. Follow-up ranged from 0.7 to 6.6 years (4.1 +/- 2.2). On follow-up two patients were doing well. Two patients died without reoperation and both had MV stenosis. Seven patients (54%) required reoperation: mean delay 4.17 years (0.7-7). In all cases, thickening, shrinking and calcification of the allograft were present. None of these seven had contributive histopathologic changes. One patient presenting recurent MV insufficiency will require a reoperation. Conclusion: MV homograft is a safe and reproducible technique, but does not provide durable results and should not be used in young patients. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

For AS, besides a very thorough update by Carabello on their management, new experimental work confirms that the pathophysiology of the condition is closer to atherosclerotic and inflammatory processes than pure degeneration. Moreover this year brings a batch of long term post-operative results, one of which is an important series relating to 2194 bioprostheses followed up for 15 years. The choice of valvular substitute between 60 and 70 years old is the subject for several studies. A series of 259 re-operations for bioprosthesis deterioration allows quantification of the operative risk to which those with this substitute are subjected in case of degeneration. Finally, the strategy to adopt in a patient with an indication for aortocoronary bypass but also with a not-tight AS is discussed (abstention, decalcification, or "preventive" valvular replacement?). For aortic insufficiency (AI) some new results for the Ross operation have been published and the first publications reporting on the attempts of experimental positioning of bioprostheses via the percutaneous route in animals are appearing. As for mitral valvulopathies, MI has carved a privileged place. Much work this year relates amongst other things to functional MI in dilated cardiomyopathies with dilatation of the ring, to the natural history of mitral valvular prolapse detailed in an important series of 833 patients, and to the evolutive risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) with MI and its treatment during plasty or mitral valvular replacement procedures. Anticoagulant treatment for mechanical prostheses is the subject of much work drawn from a large German prospective study (GELIA) confirming the general tendency for alleviation of intensity in aortic especially but also mitral valvulopathies, stressing the advantages of autocontrol. Finally, the Valvulopathy Working Group of the European Society of Cardiology publishes its recommendations for asymptomatic valvulopathies, recalling the echographic criteria of dilatation and left ventricular function to be retained for operative indications, emphasising furthermore the significance of the stress test in the follow up of asymptomatic AS.

We present the case of a 50 years old male revealed by a recurrent pericardial effusion. The diagnosis of malignancy was confirmed by direct biopsy. The treatment consisted in surgical excision and chemotherapy. The patient was asymptomatic 17 months after surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the long-term results of use of the radial artery as a conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods: After revival of the technique in 1989, the radial artery was used as a conduit in 910 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, A complete follow-up was obtained for the first 102 consecutive patients from 4 to 7 years after the operation (mean 5.27 +/- 1.30 years). Fifty-nine percent of the patients mere receiving calcium-channel inhibitors. An electrocardiographic stress test was obtained for 51 patients, with no contraindications found. Routine follow-up angiography was performed in 50 cases, including those of all patients with symptoms. Thus 64 radial artery and 48 left internal thoracic artery grafts were followed up from 4 to 7 years after the operation (mean 5.6 +/- 1.40 years), Results: The actuarial survival was 91.6% at 5 years, and the actuarial rate of freedom from angina was 88.7% at 5 gears. Four patients underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty during the period of follow-up, and there were no reoperations for revision of the bypass. The electrocardiographic stress test showed negative results in 73% of cases, electrocardiographic changes alone in 21%, and clinically positive results in 6%. Angiography showed that the patency rate of the radial artery grafts was 83%. The patency rate of the left internal thoracic artery grafts (n = 47) was 91%. The difference in patency could be related to the implantation sites of the grafts, mainly the circumflex artery (51%) for the radial artery grafts and almost exclusively the left anterior descending artery (94%) for the left internal thoracic artery Conclusion: The use of the radial artery for coronary bypass grafting provides excellent clinical and angiographic results at 5 years. Routine use of the radial artery in combination with the left internal thoracic artery can be recommended.