Idiopathic Acute Mitral Regurgitation Due to Chordal Rupture in Infants: Surgical Management and Results

OBJECTIVE: Emergency surgical treatment is required for idiopathic acute mitral regurgitation due to chordae rupture in infants. Nevertheless, mitral valve repair for such a patient population still remains challenging. We report our experience with mitral valve repair for idiopathic acute mitral regurgitation due to chordae rupture in infants. METHODS: From 2005 to 2017, six infants (four boys) were diagnosed with acute mitral regurgitation due to chordae rupture and underwent mitral valve repair. The median age, mean body weight, and median follow-up period were 5.5 months (range: 4-9 months), 6.8 kg (range: 5.5-8.0 kg), and 6.4 years (range: 6 months to 10 years), respectively. RESULTS: In all cases, surgical intervention was performed within 24 hours of admission. Artificial chordae reconstruction and paracommissural edge-to-edge repair were utilized in three and four cases, respectively, while Kay's annuloplasty was performed in all cases. Mean cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamp time were 117 minutes (range: 70-143 minutes) and 73 minutes (range: 35-108 minutes), respectively. No early or late deaths and reoperations had occurred during the follow-up period. Moreover, postoperative mitral regurgitation was significantly reduced, while no chronologic progression of mitral regurgitation was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of various techniques, such as artificial chordae reconstruction, paracomissural edge-to-edge repair, and Kay's annuloplasty, can be a promising surgical option for idiopathic acute mitral regurgitation due to chordae rupture in infants.