† These authors contributed equally.
Academic Editor: Peter A. McCullough
Saline injection into the left ventricle trough mitral valve (saline test) is
the most commonly used intraoperative assessment method in mitral valve repair.
However, potential discrepancies between the saline test findings and
intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography results after the weaning of
cardiopulmonary by-pass, remain significant. Here, we describe a new antegrade
reperfusion test, reproducing intraoperatively, the physiologic conditions of
loaded and beating heart for direct transatrial evaluation of valve tightness.
The proposed test is performed by perfusing warm oxygenated blood into the aortic
root under cross-clamping. From February 2016 to December 2018, 91 patients (mean
age: 63