Mid-term results of mitral valve repair using flexible bands versus complete rings in patients with degenerative mitral valve disease: a prospective, randomized study

BACKGROUND: We aimed to compare the outcomes of mitral valve repair with flexible band (FB) versus complete semirigid ring (SR) in degenerative mitral valve disease patients. METHODS: From September 2011 to 2014, 171 patients were randomized and underwent successful mitral valve repair using a SR (n = 85) or FB (n = 86). There were no significant between-group differences at baseline. RESULTS: There were no early mortalities. The mean follow up was 24.7 months. The 2-year survival was 96.0 ± 2.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 88.6–98.7%) and 94.3 ± 2.8% (95% CI, 85.5–97.9%) in the SR and FB groups, respectively (p = 0.899). The left ventricle remodeling was similar between the groups. Higher transmitral peak (8.5 [3.9–17] vs. 6 [2.1–18] mmHg, p < 0.001), mean pressure gradients (3.7 [1.3–8] vs. 2.8 [0.6–6.8] mmHg, p = 0.001), and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (34.5 [20–68] vs. 29.5 [8–48] mmHg, p < 0.001) was observed in the SR group. The 2-year freedom from recurrence of significant mitral regurgitation was significantly higher in the FB group than the SR group (p = 0.002). Residual mitral regurgitation was an independent prognostic factor of recurrence of mitral regurgitation. The 3-year freedom from reoperation was significantly higher in the FB group than the SR group (p = 0.044). CONCLUSION: Patients with degenerative mitral valve disease may benefit from valve repair with FBs. Residual mitral regurgitation before discharge is an independent risk factor of late insufficiency recurrence. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03278574, retrospectively registered on 06.09.2017. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s13019-017-0679-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.