Korean Circ J.  2001 Dec;31(12):1248-1251. 10.4070/kcj.2001.31.12.1248.

Clinical Characteristics and Trends of the Surgical Treatment of Chordae Rupture

• Jin EZ
• Kim MH
• Yang DK
• Park TH
• Jung WT
• Bae YZ
• Cha KS
• Kim YD
• Kim JS
• Cho KJ
• Woo JS

• KMID: 1938913
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2001.31.12.1248

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The proportion of mitral regurgitation caused by chordae rupture has recently been seen to be increasing, as has the role of mitral valve repair in the treatment of chordae rupture. This study evaluated the clinical characteristics and trends of surgical treatment of chordae rupture. Additionally, we attempted to discern the usefulness of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in the preoperative diagnosis of chordae rupture.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
Forty patients (20 men, mean age:49+/-14) presenting with chordae rupture confirmed during surgery between January 1994 and April 2001 were included in this study. Clinical, TTE and surgical data were analyzed retrospectively.
RESULTS
The cause of chordae rupture was idiopathic degeneration in 28 cases, rheumatic heart disease in 5, infective endocarditis in 6, and trauma in 1 case. The sites of rupture were the anterior leaflet (14), posterior leaflet (23), and anterior and posterior leaflets (3). Mitral valve repair was performed in 20 cases and mitral valve replacement was performed in 20 cases. Most mitral valve repairs were performed beginning in 1998 (17/20). Chordae rupture diagnosed by TTE numbered 14 cases (35%).
CONCLUSION
Regurgitation caused by chordae rupture was primarily associated with idiopathic degenerative change. Posterior leaflet rupture was more frequent than anterior leaflet rupture. The use of mitral valve repair has been increasing since 1998.

Keyword

Chordae tendineae; Mitral valve insufficiency

MeSH Terms

Chordae Tendineae
Diagnosis
Echocardiography
Endocarditis
Humans
Male
Mitral Valve
Mitral Valve Insufficiency
Retrospective Studies
Rheumatic Heart Disease
Rupture*