Pilot study investigating the feasibility of mitral valve repair without aortic cross-clamping and cardioplegia.

There is evidence that perfusing the heart with a heart and lung machine is less injurious than cross-clamping the aorta and administering cardioplegia during cardiac surgery. Although mitral valve replacement has been carried out without aortic cross-clamping and cardioplegia, it has been stated that cross-clamping is necessary in order to maintain visualization and a motionless surgical field for mitral valve repair. The purpose of this study was to determine the surgical feasibility of mitral valve repair without cross-clamping the aorta and using cardioplegia. Our hypothesis was that a completely bloodless and motion-free field would not be necessary to carry out mitral valve repair with annuloplasty and synthetic chordae tendineae sutures. Papillary muscles, chordae tendineae, annulus, and mitral valve leaflets were all readily visualized. Chordae tendineae sutures were used and annuloplasty was conducted without visual obstruction or motion interference. Our results show that mitral valve repair is feasible without cross-clamping the aorta and using cardioplegia. Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.