Long-term results of an open flexible prosthetic band for mitral insufficiency

BACKGROUND: use of a prosthetic ring is an integral part of any mitral valve repair and can influence the long-term stability of the results. We evaluated the long-term results of the AnnuloFlex ring implanted as an open flexible band in patients affected by degenerative mitral disease. METHODS: between 2001 and 2010, 82 patients (52 women, 30 men) with a mean age of 62 years, underwent repair of a prolapsing mitral valve with an AnnuloFlex band. One patient was reoperated on for a technical error and received a mechanical prosthesis, 3 were missing at follow-up, and the other 78 were prospectively followed up with clinical interviews and transthoracic echocardiography. RESULTS: the mean follow-up was 7.0 ± 1.8 years. Six patients died; 2 deaths were considered valve-related. The overall survival estimate at 10 years was 88.6% (95% confidence interval: 76.1%-94.8%). Freedom from endocarditis was 97.1% (95% confidence interval: 89.1%-98.5%). Freedom from thrombosis or hemorrhage was 93.7% (95% confidence interval: 81.6%-97.9%). Freedom from new or increased regurgitation was 93.1% (95% confidence interval: 87.3%-97.3%). The cumulative freedom from any valve-related event was 78.6% (95% confidence interval: 69.7%-97.1%). A single case of systolic anterior motion occurred before hospital discharge. CONCLUSION: the long-term results of the AnnuloFlex band are excellent and stable.