Papillary muscle sling: a new functional approach to mitral repair in patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction and functional mitral regurgitation

Background In patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) and functional mitral regurgitation (FMR), restoring a more normal alignment between mitral annulus and laterally displaced papillary muscles (PM) may be beneficial in terms of mitral repair and regional dynamics. Methods Ten patients, 29 to 78 years old, with an ejection fraction of 25% to 45%, pulmonary hypertension greater than 60, and New York Heart Association Class III–IV, had their PMs drawn together by a tightly encircling loop using a 4-mm Gore-Tex tube. Associated mitral annuloplasty rings were only moderately undersized. Efficiency was essentially evaluated on reversal of mitral tenting and control of FMR. Results Postoperative echocardioraphy revealed changes in “tenting effect” from 14 ± 2.8 mm to 4 ± 1.41 mm. Regurgitation is none to trivial in 9 patients, and mild in 1 patient. The posterior left ventricular wall between the PMs is shortened as a result of the surgical remodeling and may be beneficial on local dynamics. Conclusions Joining the PM side-by-side has an obvious immediate effect on mitral leaflet mobility by suppressing the tethering due to displacement of the PM. An eventual result on local ventricular dynamics needs confirmation.