Midterm results of mitral valve repair with homemade annuloplasty rings

Background. There are many kinds of prosthetic mitral annuloplasty rings. We report results of our homemade annuloplasty rings. Methods. Between January 1991 and January 1998, 107 patients with mitral insufficiency underwent mitral valve repair with homemade annuloplasty rings. Mitral insufficiency was due to rheumatic disease in 71 patients, degenerative disease in 29, endocarditis in 3, and congenital heart disease in 4 patients. A total of 67 patients were in New York Heart Association functional class III or IV preoperatively. Midterm follow-up was available in 106 patients from 1 month to 6.6 years (average, 2.4 years). Results. Operative mortality was 0.9%. At 5 years, survival and event-free survival rates were 92% and 80%, and freedom from thromboembolic complications and reoperation were 95% and 93%, respectively. Ninety-three patients (97%) were in New York Heart Association functional class I, 3 patients (3%) were in class II. Echocardiography at follow-up showed satisfactory mitral valve function. Conclusions. Midterm results of homemade annuloplasty rings are comparable to commercial ones.