Mitral Valve Repair with Flexible Annuloplasty Systems:

• Allows the annulus size and configuration to adapt to functional changes that occur throughout the cardiac cycle^1,2,3. [Tsakiris, Ormiston, Duran ]
• Prevents annular dilation while allowing the annulus to move naturally.
• Minimizes the risk of SAM (systolic anterior motion) and LV outflow tract obstruction^4,5. [Van Rijk-zwikker, Dagum]
• Promotes better diastolic blood flow across the mitral valve, particularly during exercise⁶. [Okada]
• Provides better early postoperative LV systolic function for those patients with a rigid ring⁷. [David]
• In addition to providing overall performance, flexible annuloplasty repair systems place less stress on the sutures during systole, minimizing the likelihood of dehiscence⁸. [Duran]

REFERENCES

1. Tsakiris AG, Von Vernuth G, Rastilli GC, et al. Size and Motion of the Mitral Valve in Anesthetized Intact Dogs. J Appl Phys 1971;30:611.
2. Ormiston JA, Shah PM, Tei C, et al. Size and Motion in the Mitral Valve Annulus in Man. Circulation 1981;64:113.
3. Duran CMG, Ubago JLM. Clinical and Hemodynamic Performance of a Totally Flexible Prosthetic Ring for Atrio-Ventricular Valve Reconstruction. Ann Thorac Surg 1976;22:458-63.
4. Van Rijk-zwikker GL, Mast F, Shepperheyn JJ, et al. Comparison to Flexible Rings for Annuloplasty of the Mitral Valve. Circulation 1990;82 (Suppl. IV):IV58-64.
5. Dagum P, Green GR, Glasson JR, et al. Potential Mechanism of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction After Mitral Ring Annuloplasty. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;117:472-80.
6. Okada Y, Shomura T, Yamaura Yl, et al. Comparison of the Carpentier and Duran Prosthetic Rings Used in Mitral Reconstruction. Ann Thorac Surg 1995;59:658-63.
7. David TE, Armstrong S, Sun Z. Left Ventricular Function After Mitral Valve Surgery. J Heart Dis 1995;4:S175-80.
8. Duran C. Perspectives for Acquired Valvular Disease. In: Advanced Cardiac Surgery, Vol. 4, 1993.