Healing of wound sutures on the mitral valve: an experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the histopathological changes that occur during the heading process of a sutured wound on the mitral valve.
METHODS: In 12 mongrel dogs, an incision was made at a right angle to the annulus at the center of the free edge of the anterior mitral leaflet and then sutured. Animals were killed 2-16 weeks later and the wounds were examined histologically.
RESULTS: Two weeks after the operation, fibrin thrombi were found on the atrial surfaces of the wound, and organized thrombi became part of the neointima thereafter. There were capillaries in the thrombi, but only a few extended from the valvular ring. On the ventricular surfaces, fibrous neointima extending from adjacent intima without capillary proliferation covered the wound at 2 weeks. These heading processes started from the valvular ring side of the wound. Processes were delayed near the free edge area, and myxomatous granulation tissue extended from the adjacent spongiosa. There were abundant collagen fibers obscuring the suture line at 4 weeks in the basal region and at 12-16 weeks near the free edge. Calcified deposits with cartilage were found in a thick scar in the basal region at 4 weeks and extended to the central area thereafter.
CONCLUSION: The healing of mitral valvular wounds is slow, especially near the free edge area. The wound is covered by organized thrombi at the atrial surface and by fibrous sheaths at the ventricular surface. These processes should be taken into consideration during the patients' care after valvoplasty, especially during the first several months after surgery.