The effects of mitral annuloplasty rings on mitral valve complex 3-D geometry during acute left ventricular ischemia

Annuloplasty rings are used to treat ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR), but their exact effects on 3-D geometry of the overall mitral valve complex during acute left ventricular (LV) ischemia remain unknown.

Radiopaque markers were sutured to the mitral leaflet edges, annulus, papillary muscle tips, and ventricle in three groups of sheep. One group served as control (n = 5), and the others underwent Duran (n = 6) or Physio (n = 5) ring annuloplasty. One week later, 3-D marker coordinates at end-systole were obtained before and during balloon occlusion of the circumflex artery.

In all control animals, acute LV ischemia was associated with: (i) septal-lateral separation of the leaflet edges, which was predicted by lateral displacement of the lateral annulus during septal-lateral mitral annular dilatation; (ii) apical restriction of the posterior leaflet edge, which was predicted by displacement of the lateral annulus away from the non-ischemic anterior papillary muscle; (iii) displacement of the posterior papillary muscle, which was not predictive of either septal-lateral leaflet separation or leaflet restriction; and (iv) mitral regurgitation. In the Duran group during ischemia, the posterior leaflet edge shifted posteriorly due to posterior movement of the lateral annulus, but no IMR occurred. In the Physio group during ischemia, neither the posterior leaflet edge nor the lateral annulus changed positions, and there was no IMR. In both the Duran and Physio groups, displacement of the posterior papillary muscle did not lead to IMR.

Either annuloplasty ring prevented the perturbations of mitral leaflet and annular--but not papillary muscle tip--3-D geometry during acute LV ischemia. By fixing the septal-lateral annular dimension and preventing lateral displacement of the lateral annulus, annuloplasty rings prevented systolic septal-lateral leaflet separation and posterior leaflet restriction, and no acute IMR occurred. The flexible ring allowed posterior displacement of the posterior leaflet edge and the lateral annulus, which was not observed with a semi-rigid ring.