Toward a better understanding of the etiology of left ventricular dysfunction after mitral valve replacement: an...

The relatively high morbidity and mortality of mitral valve replacement (MVR) appears to be related to an impairment in left ventricular (LV) function. This two-part investigation was designed to assess the effect of MVR on global LV function in an isolated heart preparation and to evaluate whether a mitral prosthesis with a flexible annulus would be of benefit. In Part I (14 pigs), the effects of each step in MVR were studied. Division of the chordae tendineae caused a severe deterioration in LV function (systolic pressure, 180 +/- 13 versus 120 +/- 10 mm Hg; p less than 0.05; developed pressure, 167 +/- 13 versus 108 +/- 11 mm Hg; p less than 0.05; first derivative of LV pressure [dP/dt], 2,630 +/- 300 versus 1,610 +/- 180 mm Hg/sec; p less than 0.05; balloon volume, 30 ml). Fixation of the mitral annulus prior to division of the chordae tendineae resulted in a small decrease (not significant) in LV function but had no effect after the chordae tendineae were divided. In Part II (10 pigs), two mitral annular prostheses were studied: a standard rigid prosthesis and a prosthesis of identical size but with a flexible annulus. LV function was better with the flexible than the rigid prosthesis (systolic pressure, 118 +/- 10 versus 89 +/- 5% control, p less than 0.02; developed pressure, 120 +/- 11 versus 87 +/- 5% control; p less than 0.02; dP/dt, 119 +/- 10 versus 85 +/- 4% control; p less than 0.02; balloon volume, 30 ml).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)