- Research
- Open Access
- Published:
Short and mid-term effects of modified release technique in rheumatic mitral valve repair
Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery volume 18, Article number: 157 (2023)
Abstract
Objective
Repair or replacement remains debatable in rheumatic heart disease. To regain optimal mean transvalvular pressure gradients and end-diastolic peak flow velocity, the modified release technique combined peeling in the anterior leaflet and separated the shortened chordal. In the end, the short and mid-term outcomes of the modified release technique were evaluated.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed a series of 128 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis, from January 2018 to July 2021 in our center. All patients undergoing mitral valve repair were using the modified release technique. The effect of mitral valve repair was evaluated by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography and postoperative transthoracic echocardiography.
Results
All the 128 patients successfully repaired the mitral valve. The intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography showed trivial or mild regurgitation. The aortic valve was repaired without obvious regurgitation in 12 cases, 5 cases received an aortic valve replacement, 89 cases underwent tricuspid annuloplasty. There were no blood transfusions in most patients, no deaths nor complications during peri-operation, also, no deaths and adverse events were observed during the follow-up period from 3 to 42 months. During the follow-up, 122 cases had no mitral valve regurgitation and 2 cases of moderate regurgitation, 4 cases of mild to moderate regurgitation. The mean peak flow velocity was 1.2 ± 0.3 m / s, no new-onset stenosis occurred.
Conclusion
Modified release technique is safe and feasible. Its durability is acceptable in the short and mid-term, with no new-onset stenosis during the follow-up.
Introduction
Rheumatic heart disease affects about 34 million people’s health in the world, causing 34,500 deaths per year and leading to about 30 thousand new-onset cases every year [1]. Rheumatic changes will cause mitral valve leaflet thickening, fibrosis, calcification, contracture, annulus enlargement, commissural, subvalvular chordae, and papillary muscle fusion, contracture, calcification, lengthy, or even rupture [2]. Considering the poor clinical outcomes and quality of life for rheumatic heart disease patients, valve surgery is considered the most effective treatment for rheumatic valvular disease [3, 4].
Considering its higher long-term survival rate and fewer complications, mitral valve repair surgery is considered the best method for treating valvular disease, especially degenerative mitral valve disease [5]. However, this opinion remains debatable in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease [6]. Indeed, the majority of rheumatic valve disease patients, especially those with severe stenosis, received valve replacement instead of valve repair [7]. On the contrary, other studies showed that mitral valve repair in rheumatic valve disease patients had acceptable outcomes [8, 9]. So, whether or not should we choose mitral valve repair in rheumatic valve disease patients?
Here, we introduced a new modified release technique in dealing with rheumatic mitral valve lesions. The goal of this technique is to increase the maximum mitral valve effective orifice area and decrease mitral valve diastolic flow velocity. We reported the mid & long-term follow-up results of the modified release technique in 128 patients and compared them with the results of mitral valve replacement.
Methods
Patient enrollment
From January 2018 to July 2021, patients with Type III rheumatic mitral valve stenosis [10]who underwent heart surgery by Dr. Cao in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital were selected, our team performed 264 mitral valve repair and 285 mitral valve replacement in these patients. Concomitant atrial radio-frequency ablation, tricuspid valve repair, aortic valve repair, or replacement was not excluded. 128 patients underwent modified release technique and 128 matched patients underwent mitral valve replacement based on age and gender. Transesophageal echocardiography assessment was routinely performed under anesthesia before and after the operation. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed to evaluate postoperative outcomes during follow-up. This study was approved by the institutional review board of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital (Number: 2021-604-01). Informed consent was exempt because of the retrospective nature of the study.
Surgical technique
Media-sternotomy or right infra-axillary vertical thoracotomy was the surgical approach for all patients, our standard operating procedure for right infra-axillary vertical thoracotomy was published [11]. After systemic heparinization, cardiopulmonary bypass is established through ascending aorta and superior/inferior vena cava. Then the mitral valve was exposed through the right atrium opening and trans-septal approach. The posterior mitral annuloplasty line was sutured to expose the anterior and posterior commissure. A 15-blade was used to remove the commissural fibrous plaques, thin the commissure, then we performed commissurotomy to the commissural body according to the actual commissural border. Then we evaluated the subvalvular apparatus using a nerve hook. We then used a 15-blade to separate the shortened chordal (preserve the paracommissural chordal) and perform papillary muscle dissection for fused papillary muscle. When the coaptation area and chordal were severely thickened and fused we performed chordal fenestration under the coaptation area. The peeling technique was performed at the anterior leaflet only. We performed the first water test before inserting the ring. Then after the ring was inserted, we perform a second water test to assess the quality of the repair (Fig. 1). Transesophageal echocardiography assessment was routinely performed under anesthesia before and after operation to evaluate the mean transvalvular pressure gradients and end-diastolic peak flow velocity (Fig. 2). This method increased the repair possibility to up to approx. 60% in type III patients.
Statistical analysis
Statistical analysis was executed with SPSS 22.0 package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). For the comparison between the two groups, Student’s t–test (normally distributed) or Mann–Whitney test (non-normally distributed) was used for continuous variables, and the c2 test was used for categorical variables. A p-value < 0.05 was defined as statistically significant.
Results
Demographic data
Patients were divided into the repair group and the replacement group as mentioned in Method. The follow-up period was 3–42 months. The mean ages were 52.7 ± 10.8 years and 52.9 ± 10.4 years, respectively. The female/male ratio was the same in both groups. The pre-operative effective orifice area was 1.2 ± 0.2 cm2 in the repair group and 1.2 ± 0.3 cm2 in the replacement group. Although in the replacement group there was a higher prevalence of NYHA III/IV and left atrial appendage thrombus, these differences had not reached statistical significance (Table 1).
Operative data
Patients in the replacement group underwent more concomitant atrial radio-frequency ablation, tricuspid valve repair, aortic valve repair, or replacement than the repair group. 27 patients underwent right infra-axillary vertical thoracotomy instead of media-sternotomy in the repair group while only 11 patients underwent right infra-axillary vertical thoracotomy in the replacement group. The overall CPB and X-clamp time were all significantly shorter in the repair group (105 ± 15 min vs. 125 ± 28 min and 70 ± 16 min vs. 85 ± 29 min, respectively; P < 0.01) (Table 1).
Perioperative and follow-up outcomes
All patients in the repair group successfully underwent modified release technique without failure repair attempt and underwent a replacement procedure. Post-plasty TEE showed mitral valve regurgitation no more than mild. 46 atrial fibrillation patients, 37 recover sinus rhythm after surgical ablation, 9 recover sinus rhythm through electric cardioversion. 12 patients underwent concomitant aortic valve repair, 5 aortic valve replacement, and 89 tricuspid valve repairs. All patients implanted 30-34 mm Carpentier-Edwards Physio I/II annuloplasty ring or Medtronic CG Future annuloplasty ring. The mean transvalvular pressure gradients were 2.7 ± 1.1 mmHg and end-diastolic peak flow velocity was 1.2 ± 0.3 m/s in the repair group, these results were better compared with 3.8 ± 1.2 mmHg (P = 0.01) and 1.6 ± 0.4 m/s (P < 0.01) in replacement group. Post-operative mechanical ventilation and hospital stay were significantly shorter in the repair group (7.2 ± 2.7 h vs. 9.3 ± 3.7 h, P < 0.01 and 7.6 ± 2.1 d vs. 8.9 ± 2.6 d, P = 0.03, respectively). During the 3–42 months follow-up, no deaths or cardiovascular/valvular plasty related adverse events occurred. ECG showed all patients remain sinus rhythm. At the recent clinic visit, TTE of patients undergoing modified release showed 81 patients with trivial regurgitation, 41 patients with mild regurgitation, 4 patients with mild-moderate regurgitation, and 2 with moderate regurgitation. None showed new onset mitral valve stenosis.
Discussion
The average age of patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease in China is 40–55 years old [12]. The first choice for these patients’ treatment in most centers is mitral valve replacement. However, the risk of anticoagulation/bleeding of mechanical valves and early bioprosthetic valves deterioration in young patients [13] affects the patients’ long-term survival and quality of life. Thus, a feasible and effective mitral valve repair for young rheumatic valve patients is required.
Asian countries such as Thailand, India, Vietnam, and Malaysia have shown good therapeutic effects in rheumatic mitral valve repair [14]. They use a pericardial patch for anterior or posterior mitral valve extension to repair the rheumatic mitral valve [15] and the Peeling technique for both leaflets [16]. However, the pathology of the Chinese rheumatic heart disease population is different. Patients in Asian countries such as Thailand, India, Vietnam, and Malaysia are younger, and the main population is adolescents. The valve is usually not yet mature. In the meanwhile, Chinese patients are normally in their 50s/60s [17]. The size of the leaflet is normal and the coaptation area is sufficient therefore does not require widening. Furthermore, after a thorough peeling in both leaflets, in order to acquire better leaflet morphology and coaptation height, require a down-sized annulus ring. For Chinese rheumatic patients, we do not recommend using a small ring, due to the normal size of the leaflet and adequate coaptation height. A down-sized ring will bring no benefit to mean transvalvular pressure gradients and end-diastolic peak flow velocity. So as to remain an actual-sized annulus, additional leaflet extension is necessary. All procedures performed simultaneously are complicated and highly increase the risk of repair failure. We only perform the Peeling technique in the anterior leaflet to remove fibrous plaque that affects coaptation. The posterior leaflet is thickened and fixed and does not play a key role in the opening of the mitral valve.
Another important aspect of the mitral valve structure is the subvalvular apparatus. The Score procedure introduced by Meng and colleagues is a simple operation and with reliable effects and easy to promote [18]. This procedure had shown many encouraging clinical outcomes in severe rheumatic mitral stenosis [19, 20]. On the basis of this procedure, we further focus on subvalvular apparatus. Modified release technique separates the shortened chordal (preserve the paracommissural chordal), performs papillary muscle dissection for fused papillary muscle and chordal fenestration under the coaptation area. This technique ensures the maintenance of mitral valve structure to ensure the best preload state of the left ventricle. On the other hand, leaflet and subvalvular apparatus were removed during valve replacement, causing left heart function was also lost. This is one of the important reasons why the long-term survival rate after valve replacement is less satisfactory [9].
In recent years, whether mitral valve repair or replacement is better in rheumatic heart patients remains debatable [21, 22]. There might be a few possible reasons: [1] rheumatic mitral valve disease has more complicated pathological changes in the valve, annulus, and subvalvular apparatus; [2] surgeon skills and experience matter in valve repair; [3] the potential failure of valve repair and tendency of valve replacement in mixed rheumatic lesion; [4] durability of mitral valve repair in rheumatic patients. Our modified release technique, according to the pathological change of adult rheumatic valve patients, peeling in the anterior leaflet, separating the shortened chordal and chordal fenestration are feasible and received acceptable mid & long-term results. Echo showed lower mean transvalvular pressure gradients and end-diastolic peak flow velocity. These changes are important in relieving patients valve-related symptoms and the durability of valve repair.
Limitations
This study has several limitations. First, this is a retrospective study from a single institution. Second, patients’ selection bias is inevitable since patients’ treatment was sometimes selected based on patients’ conditions. As a consequence, we were not able to evaluate the outcome of different surgical techniques as we did not perform randomized surgical choices. Third, we did not compare between different repair techniques, of which, further study is needed.
Conclusions
In conclusion, the modified release technique is safe and feasible. Its durability is acceptable in the long-term, with no new-onset stenosis during follow-up. The echo shows that this technique lowers mean transvalvular pressure gradients and end-diastolic peak flow velocity. Therefore, the modified release technique is a useful repair technique in surgeons’, especially young surgeons’ toolboxes.
Data availability
The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Abbreviations
- CPB:
-
cardiopulmonary bypass
- TEE:
-
trans esophageal echocardiography
- ECG:
-
electrocardiogram
- NYHA:
-
New York Heart Association
- RFCA:
-
radiofrequency current catheter ablation
- TVP:
-
tricuspid valve plasty
References
Remenyi B, ElGuindy A, Smith SC Jr, Yacoub M, Holmes DR. Jr. Valvular aspects of rheumatic heart disease. Lancet. 2016;387(10025):1335–46.
Horstkotte D, Niehues R, Strauer BE. Pathomorphological aspects, aetiology and natural history of acquired mitral valve stenosis. Eur Heart J. 1991;12(Suppl B):55–60.
Nishimura RA, Otto CM, Bonow RO, Carabello BA, Erwin JP 3rd, Fleisher LA, et al. 2017 AHA/ACC focused update of the 2014 AHA/ACC Guideline for the management of patients with Valvular Heart Disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017;70(2):252–89.
Baumgartner H, Falk V, Bax JJ, De Bonis M, Hamm C, Holm PJ, et al. 2017 ESC/EACTS guidelines for the management of valvular heart disease. Eur Heart J. 2017;38(36):2739–91.
Nishimura RA, Otto CM, Bonow RO, Carabello BA, Erwin JP 3rd, Fleisher LA, et al. 2017 AHA/ACC focused update of the 2014 AHA/ACC Guideline for the management of patients with Valvular Heart Disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2017;135(25):e1159–e95.
Saurav A, Alla VM, Kaushik M, Hunter CC, Mooss AV. Outcomes of mitral valve repair compared with replacement in patients undergoing concomitant aortic valve surgery: a meta-analysis of observational studies. Eur J cardio-thoracic surgery: official J Eur Association Cardio-thoracic Surg. 2015;48(3):347–53.
Tiange L, Xu M. Repair strategies based on pathological characteristics of the rheumatic mitral valve in chinese patients. Heart Lung Circ. 2018;27(7):856–63.
Hirota M, Isomura T, Katsumata C, Ito F, Watanabe M. Mid-term results of mitral valve palsty in patients with mitral sclerotic lesion. J Cardiothorac Surg. 2016;11(1):81.
Kim WK, Kim HJ, Kim JB, Jung SH, Choo SJ, Chung CH, et al. Clinical outcomes in 1731 patients undergoing mitral valve surgery for rheumatic valve disease. Heart. 2018;104(10):841–8.
Luo T, Meng X. Clinico-pathological classification of rheumatic mitral valve damage and surgical strategy. J Thorac disease. 2021;13(5):2933–41.
Xu C, Pan J, Zhou Q, Wang Q, Cao H, Fan F, et al. Right vertical infra-axillary thoracotomy for double valve replacement. J Card Surg. 2015;30(5):427–30.
DALYs GBD, Collaborators H, Murray CJ, Barber RM, Foreman KJ, Abbasoglu Ozgoren A, et al. Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 306 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 188 countries, 1990–2013: quantifying the epidemiological transition. Lancet. 2015;386(10009):2145–91.
Kaneko T, Aranki S, Javed Q, McGurk S, Shekar P, Davidson M, et al. Mechanical versus bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement in patients < 65 years old. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2014;147(1):117–26.
Waikittipong S. Long-term outcomes of rheumatic mitral valve repair: is it worthwhile to do it? Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann. 2021;29(2):91–7.
Yankah CA, Siniawski H, Detschades C, Stein J, Hetzer R. Rheumatic mitral valve repair: 22-year clinical results. J Heart Valve Dis. 2011;20(3):257–64.
Chauvaud S, Fuzellier JF, Berrebi A, Deloche A, Fabiani JN, Carpentier A. Long-term (29 years) results of reconstructive surgery in rheumatic mitral valve insufficiency. Circulation. 2001;104(12 Suppl 1):I12–5.
Fu JT, Popal MS, Zhang HB, Han W, Hu QM, Meng X, et al. A meta-analysis of late outcomes of mitral valve repair in patients with rheumatic heart disease. J Thorac disease. 2017;9(11):4366–75.
Luo T, Meng X. Rheumatic mitral valve repair: the score procedure. Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann. 2020;28(7):377–80.
Jiao Y, Luo T, Zhang H, Han J, Li Y, Jia Y, et al. Repair versus replacement of mitral valves in cases of severe rheumatic mitral stenosis: mid-term clinical outcomes. J Thorac disease. 2019;11(9):3951–61.
Fu J, Li Y, Zhang H, Han J, Jiao Y, Du J, et al. Outcomes of mitral valve repair compared with replacement for patients with rheumatic heart disease. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2021;162(1):72–82. e7.
Waikittipong S. Mitral valve repair for rheumatic mitral regurgitation: mid-term results. Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann. 2015;23(6):658–64.
Antunes MJ. Repair for rheumatic mitral valve disease. The controversy goes on! Heart. 2018;104(10):796–7.
Funding
This work has been supported by Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20210014) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 81970401, 82100508).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
H Chong and Y Gao wrote the main manuscript text. Y Xue, X Zhu, J Li, J Wang and H Zhang prepared Figs. 1 and 2. All authors reviewed the manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethical approval
This original paper was approved by the local ethics committee of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital (No.2021-604-01). The requirement to obtain informed consent from patients was waived, and all authors had full control of the data and information of this study.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data.
About this article
Cite this article
Chong, H., Gao, Y., Xue, Y. et al. Short and mid-term effects of modified release technique in rheumatic mitral valve repair. J Cardiothorac Surg 18, 157 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13019-023-02254-w
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13019-023-02254-w
Keywords
- Mitral valve
- Modified release
- Rheumatic heart disease