Novel Surgical Technique to Prevent Left Ventricular Rupture After Mitral Valve Replacement

Left ventricular rupture, also called atrioventricular disruption remains to be a rare but lethal complication in mitral valve replacement surgeries. To date available preventive measures for avoiding such a complication are limited to preservation of the posterior mitral leaflet and avoiding overzealous decalcification of the annulus. Nevertheless, these strategies are not always feasible in cases when annular calcifications prevent proper suture placement or when an abscess involves the mitral annulus. We describe a novel surgical technique practiced in our clinic, which could be used for such high-risk patients to avoid this lethal complication. Left ventricular rupture after mitral valve replacement (MVR) was first described in 1967 by Roberts and Morrow in the autopsy findings of patients who died after MVR [1].