title: Nonreplacement operations for mitral valve regurgitation.
abstract: Mitral valve reconstruction offers patients an important alternative to the traditional method for treating severe mitral regurgitation--mitral valve replacement. Over the last 15 years, surgical techniques have evolved for treating mitral regurgitation occurring from various anatomic mechanisms--annular dilatation, abnormal leaflet motion due to a variety of causes, or leaflet perforation. Currently, over 90% of regurgitant mitral valves of varying etiologies are amenable to nonreplacement therapy by reconstruction, with good intermediate- and long-term results. Reconstruction obviates the need for long-term anticoagulation, and thus, there has evolved a trend toward reconstruction earlier in the course of this disease, before fixed atrial fibrillation and ventricular dilatation occur.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgical Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Vlahakes
mesh_terms: D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome