PARTIAL ANNULAR PLICATION FOR ATRIOVENTRICULAR VALVE REGURGITATION

Various annuloplasty techniques are used to correct tricuspid or mitra l valve regurgitation. We performed a partial annular plication proced ure, a modification of the annuloplasty introduced by Davila, in 23 co nsecutive patients with moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation or moderate mitral regurgitation. A slender plastic tube was used to tigh ten snugly the suture during intraoperative saline flushing test for a ssessment of the valve competency. This technique enabled us to add on e stitch or two for more plication before the suture was tied if neces sary. During a mean follow-up period of 13.8 months postoperatively, 1 0 patients (43.5%) had no valve regurgitation, 12 patients (52.2%) had grade 1+ regurgitation, and 1 patient (4.3%) grade 2+ on color Dopple r echocardiography. The regurgitation grade remained unchanged or impr oved after the initial postoperative study. Our surgical experience in dicates that the adjustable procedure of partial annular-plication is a simple, exact, and durable procedure in patients of all ages with mo derate to severe functional atrioventricular regurgitation.