Key result
LV false chordae tendinae show no association with a history of VT.
Observational (n=75)
Left ventricular false chordae tendinae are common anatomic variants present in approximately 45% of patients without idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia, suggesting previous associations may have underestimated their prevalence in the normal population.
False chords present in 45% without ILVT; challenges prior disease associations and leaves open any causal role in VT.
BACKGROUND: Left ventricular (LV) false chordae tendinae (false chords) have been implicated as a source of idiopathic left (IL) ventricular tachycardia (VT). However, it is unknown whether pretest bias contributes to an apparent association with disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of false chords on direct inspection of the LV endocardium. METHODS: In a prospective series, 75 hearts were examined to identify and characterize false chords, including 20 specimens examined at autopsy and 55 consecutive patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. Medical records were reviewed for history of VT, including ILVT. RESULTS: Of 75 patients whose hearts were studied, none had a history of ILVT and only 5 had a history of any VT. False chords were present in 34 of 75 (45%) hearts, including 13 of 20 (65%) at postmortem and 21 of 55 (38%) examined at surgery (P = 0.07). The prevalence of false chords was not different among patients with (3 of 5 [60%]) versus those without (31 of 70 [44% p = 0.65]) a history of VT (P = 0.65). CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective anatomic series, the prevalence of LV false chords on autopsy and surgical inspection was approximately 45% among patients without ILVT. Previously reported associations of false chords with ILVT likely underestimated the prevalence of false chords in a normal population.
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Gualano et al. (2007) conducted an observational in Left ventricular false chordae tendinae (n=75). History of ventricular tachycardia vs. No history of ventricular tachycardia was evaluated on Prevalence of left ventricular false chordae tendinae (p=0.65). Left ventricular false chordae tendinae were found in 45% of examined hearts, with similar prevalence among patients with and without a history of ventricular tachycardia (60% vs 44%, P=0.65).
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