The Sling is used to draw together the ventricular walls at the base of the papillary muscles. This technique has previously been used in conjunction with mitral valve surgery, and has shown significant benefits for the patients.~The reduction in the lateral inter-papillary muscle separation and in the left ventricular volume provided by this technique is expected to improve ventricular function, limit progression of ventricular dilation, and avoid progression of MR when performed without mitral valve surgery in patients with symptomatic ventricular dilation.
The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of using this surgical technique in conjunction with bypass surgery to improve heart function and size, as well as decrease the possibility of future mitral valve surgery.