MITRAL-VALVE REPAIR WITH EXTENSIVE RESECTION OF THE ANTERIOR LEAFLET FOR REGURGITATION DUE TO BARLOWS-DISEASE - REPORT OF A CASE

We recently performed mitral valve repair for a case of mitral regurgi tation due to Barlow's disease, which is relatively rare in Japan. Bot h the anterior and posterior leaflets were affected by advanced myxoma tous change, and appeared markedly thickened and redundant. Although e xtensive resection of the anterior leaflet is not a generally accepted method, nearly one fourth of the anterior leaflet was resected in thi s case. Now, at 36 months after the operation, there is only trivial r egurgitation and the patient is doing well and without symptoms. We be lieve that extensive resection of the anterior leaflet can be a useful treatment for repair of a redundant anterior leaflet with excess tiss ue.