Atrioventricular valve repair using externally adjustable flexible rings.
Initial results obtained with a new flexible ring, adjustable from outside of the heart after interruption of extracorporeal circulation, are presented. Twenty-five rings have been inserted in 20 patients, 14 in the mitral position and 11 in the tricuspid position. In 8 of the 14 patients receiving mitral annuloplasty, other standard mitral valve repair techniques were used. Adjustment, assisted by intraoperative transesophageal color Doppler echocardiography, was done for 10 (71%) of the mitral rings and for 8 (73%) of the tricuspid rings. Residual mitral regurgitation disappeared or became minimal in 9 (90%) patients, and a mild regurgitation remained in 1. In all patients who received tricuspid rings regurgitation was abolished after the adjustment. There was no hospital or late mortality. After a maximum follow-up of 6 months results are comparable in the tricuspid and mitral positions and echocardiographic evaluation revealed stable competent valves in all patients but one, who underwent reoperation because of failure of a mitral valve chordae shortening procedure. The use of externally adjustable rings for the mitral and tricuspid valves is a safe alternative for atrioventricular valve annuloplasty and has the additional advantage of reducing postrepair regurgitation.