Mitral valve replacement in a patient with an extensively calcified mitral anulus: report of a case

We report herein the case of a patient with chronic renal failure in whom mitral valve stenosis with extensive mitral anular calcification involving the entire anulus and leaflets was successfully treated surgically. Excision of both leaflets and partial resection of the anular calcification enabled the insertion of a 23-mm St. Jude Medical prosthetic valve. The technical difficulties involved with inserting the appropriate-sized prosthetic valve in a narrowed mitral anulus with heavy calcification are discussed following this case report.