A study of the mechanical properties of ePTFE suture used as artificial mitral chordae

This study investigated the mechanical properties of ePTFE sutures used for artificial chordae during mitral valve repair. The study revealed that chordae greater than 3cm in length are associated with increased stiffness.  This suggests that repairs, using minimally invasive OFF PUMP beating heart techniques, which anchor ePTFE neochordae to the ventricular apex, may have less durability than when anchored to the tips of the papillary muscles.