Time for some good news. Initial Experience and Early Results of...

Time for some good news.

Initial Experience and Early Results of Mitral Valve Repair with Cardiocel Pericardial Patch

https://www.annalsthoracicsurgery.org/article/S0003-4975(18)30755-0/abstract

Purpose
To assess the performance of a tissue engineering process-treated bovine pericardium patch (CardioCel) in the setting of reconstructive mitral valve surgery.

Description
Between 3/2014 and 4/2016, 30 patients (57.2±14.3 years, 27% female) underwent mitral valve leaflet repair with a CardioCel patch.

Evaluation
Perioperative mortality was 7% (2 patients, non-graft-related). In 28 remaining patients, pre-discharge echocardiography demonstrated good repaired valve function. At a mean follow-up of 1.7±0.9 years, 3 additional deaths occurred (2 due to infective endocarditis, 1 non-cardiac related). On follow-up echocardiography [follow-up time 1.7±0.8 years, available for 26/28 (93%) hospital survivors], recurrent regurgitation was seen in 2 patients (both infective endocarditis) and 1 underwent reoperation (no infection at the level of patch repair was observed). In the remaining patients, the most recent echocardiogram demonstrated ≤mild regurgitation and stable gradients. The thickness and echodensity of the implanted patch on follow-up echocardiograms were comparable with postoperative echocardiograms.

Conclusions
Initial results of the CardioCel patch in mitral valve repair surgery are satisfactory. The resistance to infection and late degeneration will need to be assessed in the future.