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Ann Thorac Surg 2006;81:1617
© 2006 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

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Original article: Cardiovascular

Invited commentary

Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, Albinusdreef 2, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, 2333 ZA, the Netherlands

(Email: r.a.e.dion@lumc.nl).

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The authors [1] conclude that the edge-to-edge technique is not efficacious in preventing recurrent mitral regurgitation or stenosis if performed for peroperative residual mitral regurgitation. However, in my opinion there is another way to interpret the results: in group 1, the edge-to-edge technique is always used after a mitral valve repair, whereas in group 2 the great majority of the valves were primarily repaired by the edge-to-edge technique (ie, a figure of 8-stitch Ethibond [3 x 0] [Johnson & Johnson, Ethicon Inc, Sommerville, NY]). The original Alfieri technique is much more than that: the stitches are broad and reach the base of the . . . [Full Text of this Article]