Long-term outcome in dogs undergoing mitral valve repair with suture annuloplasty and chordae tendinae replacement.

Mitral valve repair under cardiopulmonary bypass was performed in three dogs with clinical signs associated with mitral regurgitation that were not controlled by medication. Mitral valve repair comprised circumferential annuloplasty and chordal replacement with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. One dog died 2 years after surgery because of severe mitral regurgitation resulting from partial circumferential suture detachment. The others survived for over 5 years, but mild mitral valve stenosis persisted in one. The replaced chordae did not rupture in any dog. Mitral valve repair appears to be an effective treatment for mitral regurgitation in dogs. Chordal replacement with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene is a feasible technique, demonstrating long-term durability in dogs. However, mitral annuloplasty techniques need improvement.