Midterm outcomes of chordal cutting in combination with downsized ring annuloplasty for ischemic mitral regurgitation.

PURPOSE We describe midterm outcomes after division of secondary chords (chordal cutting) combined with downsized ring annuloplasty for ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR). METHODS We compared the clinical outcomes in patients who underwent chordal cutting with downsized ring annuloplasty (CC-group, n = 15) and those who underwent conventional ring annuloplasty only (Conventional-group, n = 35) for IMR. Follow-up was complete in all patients. The median follow-up time was 4.1 years. RESULTS Thirty-day mortality was 0% in CC-group and 20% in Conventional-group. The overall survival rate at 5-year was 80.8% ± 12.6% in CC-group and 61.7% ± 8.4% in Conventional-group (Log-rank, p = 0.145). The freedom rate from valve-related events at 5 year was 84.6% ± 10.0% in CC-group and 65.3% ± 10.1% in Conventional-group (Log-rank, p = 0.213). Recurrence of severe mitral regurgitation was revealed in 3 patients of CC-group. Preoperative tenting height was the significant predictor of mitral regurgitation recurrence. In CC-group, the mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 38.0% ± 14.0%, which was similar to the preoperative value of 40.0% ± 13.2% (p = 0.349). CONCLUSIONS Chordal cutting with downsized ring annuloplasty for IMR is a simple method and provides satisfactory early outcomes. However, it carries with high recurrence of MR especially for patients with high tenting height.