"Double-orifice" technique to repair extensive mitral valve excision following acute endocarditis

The use of conservative surgical techniques to treat mitral valve regurgita tion secondary to acute endocarditis is controversial. Reconstruction of th e anterior leaflet may represent an additional challenge in such a setting. We report a case of mitral valve repair where extensive excision of the an terior leaflet and related chordae tendinea was necessary because of large vegetation secondary to acute endocarditis. The "double-orifice" technique was performed and allowed the salvage of the native valve. There was no rec urrent infection at 6 months from surgery, with optimal hemodynamic results .