Total reconstruction of the mitral valve with autopericardium: anatomical study

Mitral valve repair has several advantages over prosthetic valve replacement. A new technique of total reconstruction of the mitral valve with autologous pericardium is described. The native mitral valve leaflets and chordae were excised from 10 human cadaver hearts, in the same way as for prosthetic valve replacement. The dimensions of the physiologically normal mitral valve were used to calculate the parameters for tailoring a corresponding new valve. Autologous pericardium was fixed in 0.625% glutaraldehyde solution for 10 minutes. The calculated parameters of the mitral valve were marked on the pericardium. The new valve was fashioned and inserted in the native valve position. Hydraulic probes showed good competence in all 10 reconstructed mitral valves. This method might be a good alternative to prosthetic valve replacement.