OBJECTIVES Cleft-like indentations (CLI) are deep separations between scallops of the mitral posterior leaflet observed in myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), but their diagnosis, mechanisms and implications are unknown. Using 3D transoesophageal echocardiography (3DTOC), we aimed at assessing diagnostic accuracy and defining mechanisms of CLI in patients undergoing surgery for MMVD. METH...

BACKGROUND Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is usually benign, although serious complications may occur. It remains unclear whether the region of prolapsed mitral leaflets might affect prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate lesional differences of clinical courses of MVP. METHODS AND RESULTS We retrospectively investigated 128 MVP patients who had been followed up for for a mean of 56...

OBJECTIVE Robotic mitral valve repair is the least invasive approach to mitral valve repair, yet there are few data comparing its outcomes with those of conventional approaches. Therefore, we compared outcomes of robotic mitral valve repair with those of complete sternotomy, partial sternotomy, and right mini-anterolateral thoracotomy. METHODS From January 2006 to January 2009, 759 patients w...

It is well recognized that the floppy mitral valve (FMV) complex is the central issue in the FMV, mitral valve prolapse (MVP), and mitral valvular regurgitation (MVR) story. MVP associated with the FMV results from the systolic movement of portions or segments of the FMV complex into the left atrium (LA). Prolapse of the FMV results in unique forms of mitral valvular dysfunction and MVR. When t...

Degenerative mitral valve disease is the most common cause of mitral regurgitation (MR) in developed countries. The most common etiologies of valvular regurgitation are Barlow's disease and fibroelastic deficiency. The mechanism of MR is type II dysfunction (leaflet prolapse) due to chordae elongation or rupture in most patients. Associated annular dilation is a common lesion in almost all pati...

Disorders of the Pericardium Pericardial Effusion Pericarditis Acute Pericarditis Chronic Pericarditis With Effusion Constrictive Pericarditis Coronary Heart Disease Coronary Circulation Pathogenesis of Coronary Heart Disease Chronic Ischemic Heart Disease Stable Angina Variant Angina Silent Myocardial Ischemia Acute Coronary Syndromes Unstable Angina/Non–ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarct...

Mitral prosthetic valve regurgitation due to stent fracture with consequent cusp prolapse occurred in two patients with a Wessex porcine bioprosthesis.

marfan’s syndrome (mfs) is a genetic disorder associated with autosomal dominant inheritance. in mfs, the most prevalent cause of death is cardiovascular involvement. here we introduce a family with a severe penetration of mfs. eleven members of this family have mfs (father, two daughters, three sons, and five grandchildren). the most common cardiac involvement in our patients was mitral valve ...

Mitral valve prolapse is a common valvular abnormality that is caused by myxomatous degeneration, characterized macroscopically by leaflet thickening and redundancy accompanied with histologically marked proliferation of the spongiosa and mucopolysaccharide acid replacement of leaflet collagen in the prolapse leaflets. Nevertheless, the discrepant natural history and various concomitant syndrom...