Background-We investigated the coronary arterial origins and course and the position of the great arteries in hearts with discordant ventriculoarterial connections. At the same time, we sought to evaluate the practicality of alphanumeric classifications in accounting for surgically relevant features of the coronary arteries. Methods and Results-We studied 200 postmortem hearts, noting the patterns of coronary arterial branching, the vertical and horizontal location of the arterial orifices within the aortic sinuses, the course of the proximal coronary arteries in relation to the aortic wall, and the relations of the great arteries and their respective commissures. All hearts examined had concordant atrioventricular and discordant ventriculoarterial connections. We found 7 of the 8 predicted patterns for sinusal origin of the 3 major coronary arteries and identified 5 different positions of the arterial trunks relative to each other. A correlation was found between less frequent relationships of the arterial trunks and unusual patterns of coronary arterial branching, as well as with mismatch between the valvar commissures. Conclusions-The surgically relevant features of the coronary arteries in hearts with discordant ventriculoarterial connections are best described rather than classified. Correlations exist between certain, less frequent relations of the great arteries and unusual patterns of branching of the coronary arteries. The presence of unusual great arterial positions should alert the surgeon to potentially complicated arrangements of the origin and distribution of the coronary arteries.

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In the present study of mitral valve replacement, we investigated whether complete preservation of both leaflets (that is, the subvalvular apparatus) is superior to preservation of the posterior leaflet alone. Seventy patients who underwent mitral valve replacement in our clinic were divided into 2 groups: MVR-B (n=16), in whom both leaflets were preserved, and MVR-P (n=54), in whom only the posterior leaflet was preserved. The preoperative and postoperative clinical and echocardiographic findings were evaluated retrospectively. No signs of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction were observed in either group. In the MVR-B group, no decrease was observed in left ventricular ejection fraction during the postoperative period, whereas a significant reduction was observed in the MVR-P group (P=0.003). No differences were found between the 2 groups in their need for inotropic agents or intra-aortic balloon pump support, or in cross-clamp time, duration of intensive care unit or hospital stays, postoperative development of new atrial fibrillation, or mortality rates. Bileaflet preservation prevented the decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction that usually followed preservation of the posterior leaflet alone. However, posterior leaflet preservation alone yielded excellent results in terms of decreased left ventricular diameter. Bileaflet preservation should be the method of choice to prevent further decreases in ejection fraction and to avoid death in patients who present with substantially impaired left ventricular function.