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Although these initial findings suggest direct myocardial implantation of HFDSCs is feasible and improves cardiac function in HF patients at 40 months, more clinical research is required to confirm these observations.

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Objectives Indirect reduction of septal- lateral diameter (SLD) by circumferential cinching of the annulus with ring annuloplasty (RA) is the standard part of mitral valve repair surgery. Direct SLD reduction without circumferential annular cinching by a novel trans-annular Mitral Bridge with an infra-annular curvature has been used for functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) as a sole procedure and for mitral valve prolapse (MVP)as a part of valve repair. The aim of this study was to assess the functional and hemodynamic outcomes at rest and exercise at 2 yr. follow up in the patients with this novel type of annuloplasty. Methods 30 of 34 patients with FMR who had trans annular Mitral Bridge as the sole treatment of their MR and 5 of 8 patients with MVP in a prospective trial underwent at 2yr F/U bicycle ergometer exercise echocardiography on a special semi-recumbent bicycle. Mitral regurgitation, mitral peak and mean gradient, mitral valve area, systolic pulmonary arterial pressure, systolic function of the left ventricle were assessed at rest and peak exercise. Results Mitral regurgitation was 0.3 ± 0.5 at rest and 0.4 ± 0.5 at peak exercise (p = 0.264). The resting mean mitral gradient was 2.3 ± 0.9 mmHg and peak 4.6 ± 1.9 mmHg (p <.0001) and valve area was at rest 3.5 ± 0.7cm2 and at peak 3.9 ± 0.9 cm2 (p = 0.026). Pulmonary systolic arterial pressure was 25.8 ± 17 at rest and 36.9 ± 21.8 at peak exercise (P = 0.012). LVEF was 60,4± 10.5 at rest and at peak 66,4± 12.5 (p <.0001). Conclusion Trans annular Mitral Bridge as a alternative to standard annuloplasty ring is effective. At 2 yr follow up there was only trace mitral regurgitation and no mitral stenosis. The stress test verified the durability of the mitral repair both in FMR and MVP. There was no mitral stenosis and no mitral regurgitation at exercise. The raise of the mean mitral gradient was statistically important, but the values remained within the normal range. The raise of gradients is in correlation with the presence of cardiac reserve and increased LVEF. There were no signs of pulmonary hypertension caused by the stress. Abstract P760 Figure. Mitral Bridge