Mitral annulus reconstruction and giant left atrial reduction plasty.

We describe a simple and reproducible technique permitting both effective left atrial reduction plasty and safe mitral annulus reconstruction, using a patch of left atrium tissue. In a 64-year-old patient undergoing redo mitral valve replacement for mechanical prosthesis disinsertion, a giant left atrium and extensive calcification of the mitral annulus were noted. This technique permitted a safe mechanical mitral prosthesis re-replacement and a significant reduction of left atrial volume by 70%.
(Copyright © 2013 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)