Mitral valve replacement for a severely calcified mitral annulus

: An 80-year-old woman was referred to our institution because of acute heart failure due to moderate mitral stenosis and severe regurgitation. After medical treatment of heart failure, she underwent mitral valve surgery. Intraoperatively severe calcification of the posterior mitral annulus was revealed. We excised only the anterior mitral leaflet and preserved the posterior mitral leaflet to prevent a fatal complication such as left ventricular rupture, injury of the coronary artery or embolism. Partial resection of the calcified annulus was performed using Ultrasonic Surgical System (SonoSurg), after 2-0 polyester mattress sutures were placed through the anterior and posterior annuli from the left ventricle to the left atrium. Then, mitral valve replacement was performed using a St. Jude Medical mechanical heart valve at the supra-annular position. The postoperative course was uneventful. We concluded that partial resection of a severely calcified posterior mitral annulus by the ultrasonic device was a safe and simple procedure.