Saddle-Shaped Annuloplasty Improves Leaflet Coaptation in Repair for Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation

The University of Pennsylvania group, in a porcine model of ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR), compared echocardiographic surface coaptation in two groups of pigs:  Those undergoing MV repair with a flat semirigid annuloplasty ring vs. with a saddle-shaped rigid annuloplasty ring.  The group found that the latter ring led to significantly improved leaflet coaptation compared to the former.