NeoChord Method

The parachute-like threads that hold the leaflets of the mitral valve are weak in some people. If these threads break for some reason, the mitral valve leaflets are left unsupported while the heart contracts and blood leaks back into the left atrium. If this leakage is severe, the usual treatment is surgical repair of the valve. In surgery, artificial threads are sewn in place of the broken threads and the leak is eliminated. However, some patients are too high risk for surgery. They may not be able to tolerate having the heart stopped during surgery and the heart-lung pump running during this time. In this case, the NeoChord procedure can be performed in suitable patients. This method does not require the heart to be stopped for repair. It also requires a longitudinal incision in the chest incision but this procedure requires a small opening in the chest. hole through a process. Now, let us summarize how this procedure is performed: After the patient is put to sleep under general anesthesia, the device's wand is inserted into the heart through a hole in the left breast, first into the chest and then into the tip of the heart. Thanks to special techniques, the heart is not stopped even at this stage. The device captures the mitral leaflet whose threads have broken. To confirm the capture, both an echo through the esophagus (TEE) and the device's verification control are used. The artificial threads are then sutured to the mitral leaflet. The length of the threads is adjusted and, once the leak has been corrected to the desired level, the other ends of the threads are attached and secured to the end of the heart. Finally, the access site is closed with a special technique and the procedure is completed.