To compare flexible ring with rigid ring for annular remodeling and hemodynamic changes of left ventricle (LV) in mitral valve repair (MVR) at short term interval.

From January 1998 to March 2001, 35 patients with mitral valve prolapse underwent mitral valve repair with ring annuloplasty. The mean age of these patients was 49 years. Eighteen patients underwent mitral annuloplasty with Carpentier-Edwards Classic-ring (Group A). Seventeen patients underwent mitral annuloplasty with Physio-ring (Group B). LV fun-ction and annulus size were assessed by echocardiography on the day before operation and 2 to 3 months later. Mitral annular motion had been examined by means of the extent of mitral annular systolic excursion (MASE) as measured in two longitudinal LV segments (septal and lateral).

1) In valve pathology, anterior leaflet lesion was 14 cases, posterior was 14, combined lesion was 7 cases. 2) At all, left ventricular end-systolic dimension, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension and LV mass decreased postoperatively. But, no differences existed between the groups. 3) Postoperatively (after 2-3 months), echocardiograms in 35 patients demonstrated no mitral regurgitation (MR) in 16 cases, trace to mild MR in 17 cases, moderate MR in 2 patients. In Classic-ring group, MR was demostrated in 11 cases (61%). In Physio-group, MR was demonstrated in 8 cases (47%). 4) Postoperatively, mitral valve area increased significantly only in patients with Physio-ring (1.93±0.33 vs 2.38±0.92, p<0.05). 5) No differences existed between the groups in MASE.

There are the significant reduc-tion in cardiac chambers and annulus size and improvement of LV function after both types of ring annuloplasty at short term result. There are no significant differences between Classic-ring and Physio-ring except 2 cases postrepair SAM (systolic anterior motion) of mitral valve in Classic-ring.