Intraoperative assessment of mitral valve repair: Validation of the saline test with nonresectional repair techniques.

After repair with neochordae, a satisfactory saline test indicates a good repair and discrete leaks on the saline test suggest the need for further surgical maneuvers. If the surgeon has employed standard repair techniques using neochordae but the saline test is inconclusive or poor, additional repair maneuvers are generally unnecessary, as intraoperative echocardiography will usually demonstrate a good repair.