Reinventing the Saphenous Vein: Reconstructing the Anterior Mitral Leaflet With a Saphenous Vein

摘要

Mitral valve repair can sometimes require leaflet augmentation or a patch repair of a defect in the leaflet. No ideal patch material is currently available that can grow and adapt to the mitral leaflet. This report describes a new technique using autologous saphenous vein as patch material. The saphenous vein is untreated, living tissue and remains flexible as a patch or leaflet augmentation for up to 3 years on echocardiography. (C) 2019 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons