Comparison of early postoperative results between conventional and transapical mitral valve repair

Abstract

Introduction

Conventional mitral valve repair (CMVR) is well-established, safe and effective treatment for degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR). Transapical off-pump implantation of artificial chordae (TA) has been introduced into practice and gained interest among surgeons. However, there are no publications comparing the results between TA and CMVR.

Aim

To compare early postoperative outcomes of CMVR with TA in patients with degenerative MR.

Material and methods

This was a retrospective cohort study. A total of 169 patients who underwent mitral valve repair between 2011 and 2018 were included in this analysis. Patients were divided into two groups: the TA group, n = 78 and CMVR group, n = 91. The groups were compared for early postoperative outcomes.

Results

Patients in the TA group were younger, 54.2 ±11.1 vs. 59.5 ±12.8 years (p = 0.005). Patients in the CMVR group had more complicated postoperative course with higher incidence of blood transfusion (42.9% vs. 7.8%, p = 0.001), atrial fibrillation (25.3% vs. 11.7%, p = 0.031), renal insufficiency (15.4% vs. 2.6%, p = 0.007) and stroke (2.1% vs. 0%). In the early postoperative period, one patient died in the TA group, and there were no deaths in the CMVR group (p = 0.277). Residual moderate to severe mitral regurgitation was present in nine (11.5%) TA patients, while none of the patients in the CMVR group had moderate or a higher degree of residual regurgitation (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Off-pump transapical MV repair is a feasible and safe procedure with low postoperative morbidity rates. Higher rates of mitral regurgitation reoccurrence would require a careful and thorough selection of the patients suitable for the TA approach.