Time-dependent change in fresh autologous pericardium applied for posterior mitral annuloplasty: degree of calcification and its influence on the repaired mitral valve

Objective To investigate the degree of calcification of fresh autologous pericardium applied for posterior mitral annuloplasty and its influence on the repaired mitral valve. Methods Thirty-nine patients (31 degenerative and 8 infective endocarditis; mean age at surgery: 62 ± 11 years) were enrolled in this study. Sixteen-slice multi-detector computed tomography was performed to identify calcification of autologous pericardium. The mean clinical follow-up was 4.6 ± 2.6 years (maximum 8.8 years) and the mean computed tomography follow-up period was 3.6 ± 2.5 years (maximum 7.6 years) after surgery. Results Pericardial calcification was detected in 15 patients. The earliest detection of calcification was 2.5 years after surgery. There was a weak correlation between pericardial calcification and postoperative years (Pearson’s product correlation coefficient: 0.476; p = 0.0019). However, severe calcification of autologous pericardium did not occur in any case. There was no association between pericardial calcification and recurrent mitral regurgitation ( p = 0.1145). The mean mitral valve orifice area and the mean transmitral pressure gradient in the 15 patients with calcification were 3.0 ± 0.6 cm 2 and 2.1 ± 1.0 mmHg, respectively. Conclusions Calcification of the fresh autologous pericardium increased with postoperative years. It had no adverse effects on repaired mitral valve in the short-term follow-up period. We will report the findings once again when the follow-up reaches 10 years.