Mitral valve repairs using the posterior tricuspid leaflet and chordae. Technique and results

Some mitral lesions are still out of reach of conventional repairs. Transferring the posterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve with its subvalvular apparatus to the mitral valve is a new autograft technique which has allowed us a conservative approach in cases where repair seemed less predictable.

After removing the posterior tricuspid leaflet with its subvalvular apparatus, the tricuspid autograft was inserted by implanting its papillary muscle onto the mitral papillary muscle and then by suturing the leaflet tissue in place. The tricuspid valve was subsequently repaired by annular plication and leaflet suture. A tricuspid ring was used in all but the first case.

The age of the seven patients ranged from 20 to 70 years. Postoperative controls by transesophageal echocardiography showed no leaks in five and trivial in one on the site of the mitral repair. On the tricuspid valve, we found a moderate leak in the first case and trivial or none in the following cases, where a tricuspid ring was used. With a 3-12 month follow-up the results are stable.

This autograft technique is reproducible, and extends the field of mitral valve repairs. Compared to segments of mitral homografts, we prefer the intraoperative availability of natural chordae and valvular leaflet that have no immunological interference. The patient is his own tissue bank and the tricuspid valve can be repaired with a very low risk of significant dysfunction.