[Mitral valve replacement with preservation of whole papillary muscles and chordae tendineae]

A total of 20 patients underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR) with preservation of the papillary muscles (PM) and chordae tendineae (CT) with the object of maintaining left ventricular contractility and decreasing the risk of left ventricular rupture after surgery. The patients comprised of 8 males and 12 females whose ages ranged from 33 to 67 years. In 8 patients, the posterior leaflet was left in place and in 12, the CT to the anterior leaflet were also preserved by excision of the central portion and reattachment of the rest of the leaflet to the appropriate commissural regions. St. Jude Medical valves were exclusively employed as a substitute. Reasons for MVR were isolated MR in 12 cases, MRs in 5 and MSr in 3. There were one operative, one hospital and one late death respectively. Postoperative C.I. increased from 2.65 +/- 0.48 to 3.8 +/- 0.75 ml/min./M2 and LVEF increased from 55.1 +/- 11.4 to 63.4 +/- 13.4%. The area method showed marked improvement of segmental wall motion in anterolateral regions. Chordal shortening also disclosed improvement in long axis. Preservation of papillary muscles and chordae tendineae during MVR has been found to have a beneficial effect on postoperative left ventricular contractility.