Effectiveness of the taut-line hitch knot in accurately determining the length of artificial chordae during repair for degenerative mitral insufficiency.

Taut-line hitch, a type of ropework used in outdoor activities, was adopted to tie the artificial chordae during mitral valve repair for degenerative mitral insufficiency. This knot-tying technique facilitated artificial chordae length determination during surgery. Nineteen patients with degenerative mitral insufficiency were successfully treated using this technique.