Mitral valve replacement and remodeling of the left ventricle in dilated cardiomyopathy with mitral regurgitation: initial results.

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of a new method of mitral valve replacement on left ventricular (LV) remodeling and heart failure functional class.

Methods: Eight patients (6 men) with severe mitral regurgitation from end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy underwent surgery. Five patients were in functional class (FC) IV, 2 were in FC III and 1 was in FC III/IV.