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.