Abstract
Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene suture has been used for chordal replacement to achieve better results of mitral valve repair in patients with severe subvalvular disease. From March 1994 to December 1996, 16 patients with mitral valve disease were successfully repaired with this suture at Central Chest Hospital. There were 10 males and 6 females. The average age was 36.5 years. Mean follow-up was 18.18 months. Mitral valve disease was rheumatic in origin in most patients. The suture was attached to the posterior leaflet in 11 patients and to the anterior leaflet in the other 5. The average number of pairs of sutures used per patient was 1.37 (range 1 to 4 pairs). The average number of surgical procedures for mitral valve repair per patient was 5.1. There was no hospital mortality and no thromboembolic complication or reoperation during this study. Postoperative functional status and mitral regurgitation improved substantially. We concluded from this study that this suture can be used safely and effectively for chordal replacement in mitral valve repair.
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