Slit stent technique for ensuring the correct length of artificial chordae in mitral repair.

Excellent long-term results have been described for replacement of diseased mitral valve chordae with polytetrafluoroethylene sutures. Tying the knot at the intended length of the artificial chordae is technically demanding. Herein, a simple and reproducible method, using a slit plastic tube for stenting the artificial chordae at the intended length is described. With this technique, the knot of the premeasured artificial chordae can be tied surely without change in the length.