Creation of artificial chords during mitral valve replacement in patients with rheumatic heart disease

Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the use of artificial chords using polytetrafluoroethylene sutures during mitral valve replacement in patients with rheumatism. Methods. The study included 134 patients operated on for isolated rheumatic mitral valve disease. Immediate (10 days) and long-term (24 months) results were evaluated in the three groups of patients, depending on the method of valve replacement: creation of prosthetic chords using polytetrafluoroethylene sutures (37 patients), preservation of native chords (67 patients), total excision of the subvalvular apparatus (control group, 30 patients). Results. 24 months after surgery in the group of prosthetic chords and the group of preserved native chords recorded was a significant decrease in the pulmonary artery pressure, the left atrial size and a reduction in the end-diastolic left ventricular size. In the control group of patients reported was a reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction in long-term follow up. Conclusion. The use of polytetrafluoroethylene sutures in order to create new chords demonstrated their safety and effectiveness in preserving the physiological left ventricular geometry; artificial chords, as well as the preserved native chords, have a positive effect on the left ventricular contractile function in the remote postoperative period.

mitral valve replacement, artificial chords, polytetrafluoroethylene, preservation of the fibro-papillary continuity, rheumatism, mitral valve disease