Chordal Replacement with Gore-Tex Sutures in Mitral Valve Repair: One Institute Experience

Objectives: There has been an increasing number of reports concerning mitral valve repair by reconstruction of the chordae tendinae with Gore-Tex sutures. This study aims to assess the use of Gore-Tex sutures in correcting mitral regurgitation (MR) caused by ruptured chordae tendinae. Methods: From May 2002 to January 2004, 11 patients (6 males, 5 females) whose mean age was 50 years, ranging from 37 to 81 years, underwent mitral valve repair with chordal replacement by Gore-Tex sutures. The cause of MR in all 11 patients was ruptured chordae tendinae. Valve lesions were anterior in three patients, posterior in seven patients, both anterior and posterior in one patient. Concomitant procedures included ring annuloplasty in all patients, CABG in three patients, aortic valve replacement (AVR) in 3 patients, and tricuspid valve annuloplasty (TVA) in six patients. Results: There were no operative deaths, late mortality or morbidity, or re-operations due to worsening MR. The degreses of MR at recent follow-up were none in three patients, trivial in five patients, and mild in three patients. Conclusion: Gore-Tex sutures are excellent for chordal replacement in mitral valve repair. This material has allowed us to increase the probability of successful mitral valve repair in patients with ruptured chordae tendinae.