Early clinical experience and echocardiographic results with a new semirigid mitral annuloplasty ring: the Sorin Memo 3D.

Background: The Sorin Memo 3D (Sorin Biomedica Cardio S.r.L., Saluggia, Italy) is a new, complete semirigid annuloplasty ring. Clinical use, outcomes, and echocardiographic results are reported as an evaluation of its safety and efficacy in the treatment of mitral valve regurgitation (MVR).

Methods: This device was assessed in 63 patients (63.5% men; mean age, 70.2 +/- 10.3 years) who underwent MVR operations between January 2007 and June 2008. Functional classification was normal leaflet motion (type I; 1.6%), leaflet prolapse (type II; 66.7%), and restricted leaflet motion (type III; 31.7%). Valve disease was degenerative (68.25%), ischemic (25.4%), and nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (6.35%).

Results: Early mortality (< or = 30 days) was 3.3% (2 patients). Late mortality (11.2 +/- 5.1 months) was 4.9% (3 patients). No deaths were device-related. Thromboembolic stroke occurred in 3.3% and endocarditis in 1.6%. Freedom from reoperation was 98.4%. At 6 months, MVR was grade 0/1 in 93.7% and grade 2+ in 6.4%. Left end-diastolic ventricular diameters decreased significantly from 59.3 +/- 6.9 mm preoperatively to 50.6 +/- 12.2 mm at 6 months, pulmonary arterial pressure decreased from 44.8 +/- 7.1 mm Hg to 38.4 +/- 5.5 mm Hg, and left ventricular ejection fraction increased significantly from 0.469 +/- 0.129 to 0.582 +/- 0.106. New York Heart Association functional class was I in 81% and II in 13.8%.

Conclusions: Early results indicate the Sorin Memo 3D ring safely and effectively minimizes secondary MVR resulting from all causes and preserves mitral annular flexibility and function at follow-up.