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Background The surgical treatment of ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR) usually involves implantation of an annuloplasty ring. We compared results of mitral valve repair using a flexible or a rigid annuloplasty ring in patients with ischemic MR undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Methods There were 169 patients. A flexible ring was implanted in 117 and a rigid ring in 52. Age and clinical profile, degree of left ventricular dysfunction, and degree of MR (mean 3.2) were similar between groups. Results Operative mortality was 9% in each group. Follow-up (58 ± 30 months for flexible group and 14 ± 7 months for rigid group) was available for 91%. For the flexible and rigid ring groups, respectively, mean New York Heart Association functional class was 1.9 and 1.6, with 33% and 14% in classes III to IV ( p = 0.03); mean MR grade was 1.25 and 0.7 ( p = 0.006). There was no difference in left ventricle function or dimensions. At follow-up, 29 patients (34%) in the flexible group had residual MR of moderate degree or greater compared with 6 (15%) in the rigid group ( p = 0.03). Mean tricuspid incompetence gradient was 39 and 34 mm Hg ( p = nonsignificant); however, the degree of reduction was greater in the rigid group ( p = 0.001). Late mortality was observed in 32 patients, all in the flexible group. Conclusions Clinical and hemodynamic results are better with rigid mitral annuloplasty rings compared with flexible rings. That result may be due to ring design, which dictates not only the annular diameter but also annular configuration. Longer follow-up is needed to determine differences in survival.

Background A new procedure for correction of Ebstein's anomaly that restores to near normal the anatomic and physiologic function of the tricuspid valve and the right ventricle is reported. Methods Between December 1997 and September 2002, 34 consecutive patients with Ebstein's anomaly underwent this new procedure. There were 13 male and 21 female patients aged 9 months to 48 years (mean, 17 years). Tricuspid incompetence was moderate in 12 patients and severe in 22. Our repair technique is as follows: the displaced posterior leaflet with some chordae tendineae and corresponding papillary muscle are detached from the annulus and ventricular wall, respectively. The leaflet is then reattached to the native posterior annulus with reimplantation of the papillary muscle. The displaced septal leaflet is treated in the same manner. Most of the atrialized portion of the ventricular wall is excised; the tricuspid annulus is plicated. In 8 of the patients the septal leaflet was severely hypoplastic and necessitated creation of a new leaflet using autologous pericardium. Results All patients survived and recovered uneventfully. Postoperative echocardiography showed that tricuspid incompetence disappeared in 29 patients and was mild in 5. Right ventricular size decreased significantly with complete disappearance of the atrialized segment. Follow-up of patients ranged from 1 to 55 months (mean, 25 months), with 9 patients having more than 3 years of follow-up. They are doing well and their exercise tolerance improved to normal. Conclusions This new procedure anatomically corrects Ebstein's anomaly with the satisfactory early and midterm results.

Background . On the basis of a previous experience in a chronic sheep model in which partial mitral allografts remained viable and properly functioning 12 months after operation, we assessed the results obtained by replacing the tricuspid valve with fresh antibiotic-preserved mitral allografts. Methods . Twenty 3-month-old sheep with a mean weight of 23.7 ± 2.3 kg underwent cardiopulmonary bypass and had a fresh antibiotic-preserved mitral allograft implanted in the tricuspid position with the heart beating under normothermic conditions. The tricuspid valve apparatus was not excised. After a mean follow-up of 13.2 months, the allograft was evaluated by gross inspection and light and electron microscopy. Results . Nine sheep died of technical causes within the first week after operation and 2 at 4 and 6 months of infective endocarditis of the allograft. The hemodynamic study before heart explantation revealed residual tricuspid incompetence in 3 of the 9 survivors. Macroscopic examination showed flexible valves with no signs of structural deterioration, calcification, or thrombosis. Under light and scanning electron microscopic examination, allografts were almost completely denuded of endothelial cells and showed loosely arranged connective tissue with scarce signs of inflammatory reaction. Despite these findings, allografts were free from major structural damage. Conclusions . The mitral homograft could be an alternative to replacement of the tricuspid valve with a bioprosthesis or a mechanical prosthesis.

Background. Tricuspid valve insufficiency secondary to structural anomalies of the valve itself or to an iatrogenic complication of the Rashkind procedure is very rarely associated with transposition of the great arteries. This condition represents an interesting perioperative challenge. Rapid restoration of the tricuspid valve to a low-pressure system by arterial switch operation associated with tricuspid repair should theoretically improve the outcome in terms of myocardial and valve function. Methods. Thirteen of 839 patients who underwent an arterial switch operation for various forms of transposition of the great arteries presented with moderate to severe tricuspid insufficiency. Three of them had a ventricular septum defect. Nine experienced severe cardiac failure with profound hypoxemia. Ventilatory support was necessary in 7, 6 had renal or hepatic dysfunction, and 5 had coagulation disorders. Inotropic support was started preoperatively in 8 patients. Results. Tricuspid lesions were as follows: primary annular dilatation and lack of coaptation at the commissural level (n = 1), straddling tricuspid valve (n = 1), redundant tricuspid valve tissue leading to left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (n = 1), small cleft of the septal leaflet (n = 1), and dysplastic valve tissue with juxtacommissural regurgitation (n = 1). In 8 patients, the cause of the tricuspid valve insufficiency was most probably an iatrogenic lesion, with rupture of the papillary muscle (n = 2), rupture of the chordae (n = 1), or tear of the anterior leaflet (n = 5), whereas no clear cause could be found in 1 patient. Repair consisted of the arterial switch operation associated with tricuspid valve repair in 10 patients. In 2 patients with only discrete anomaly and in 1 without a clear cause of tricuspid regurgitation, no valve repair was performed. Three patients had their ventricular septal defect closed. There were one early and one late death, both not related to the tricuspid lesions. Late postoperative (mean, 6.5 years) evaluation revealed normal left ventricular function in 10, with no tricuspid incompetence in 7 and trivial tricuspid insufficiency in 3. Conclusions. Restoration of an incompetent tricuspid valve in a low-pressure system by the arterial switch operation combined with valve repair provides good ventricular and valvar results. Preoperative management and appropriate timing of operation seem to be of utmost importance.

Results following palliative and reparative operations in children with transposition of the great arteries have improved greatly over the past decade, with the result that the criteria for selecting a particular procedure and its timing are now more clearly defined. Recently the trend has been away from palliative procedures and toward earlier repair. Early repair, however, should be undertaken with caution because it is associated with an increase in early and late postoperative complications. Long-term follow-up studies of children following intraatrial baffle repair of transposition show that cardiac arrhythmias and venous obstruction are the most frequent and important long-term problems. Tricuspid incompetence and right ventricular failure were uncommon. Later studies may reveal unexpected complications and produce information which should lead to further improvements in treatment.