1 | INTRODUCTION
Degenerative mitral valve disease is the most common indication for
mitral valve surgery in North America1 In such
patients, mitral valve repair is preferred over mitral valve
replacement2-4. Historically, resectional techniques
described by Carpentier5 were the predominant approach
to mitral valve repair.
David and Frater6-8 originally described the used of
artificial ePTFE chords to reconstruct the mitral valve apparatus when
ruptured or elongated native chordae are the cause of prolapse. Mitral
valve repair with artificial chordae has excellent mid- and long-term
outcomes9-10. It has been shown to produce equivalent
clinical outcomes when compared with resectional techniques. Potential
advantages when compared to resectional techniques include preservation
of the mitral valve apparatus, greater surface of leaflet coaptation and
decreased risk of SAM11-12. However, a small
percentage of patients experience early mitral valve repair failure
after repair with artificial chordae.
We report 2 cases of recurrent mitral regurgitation early after mitral
valve repair with artificial chordae; these were attributable to
recurrent prolapse resulting from left ventricular remodeling.