title: Can late survival of patients with moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation be impacted by intervention on the valve?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ischemic mitral regurgitation is known to be associated with poor long-term outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting; however, our ability to alter that outcome with intervention on the valve is unclear. The decision to address the valve is most challenging for patients with only moderate mitral regurgitation, particularly with the popularization of off-pump surgery. We therefore reviewed early and late outcomes of patients undergoing revascularization with or without mitral valve surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with moderate mitral regurgitation undergoing revascularization with and without mitral surgery between January 1991 and September 1996 were identified retrospectively. Operative notes were reviewed and patients with structural valve disease excluded. Perioperative events and late outcomes as determined by telephone contact and search of the social security death index (survival data 97% complete) were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred seventy-six patients with moderate mitral regurgitation underwent revascularization alone (n = 142) or with mitral repair or replacement (n = 34). Those undergoing revascularization alone had a higher serum creatinine, somewhat less mitral regurgitation, and lower New York Heart Association functional class preoperatively. Operative mortality was greater with valve surgery (21% vs 9%, p = 0.047). Actuarial survival of both groups at 5 years was similar (52% vs 58%, p = NS); however, when stratified by preoperative functional class, those with more advanced heart failure preoperatively had superior late survival if their mitral valve was intervened upon.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The late survival of patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation undergoing coronary revascularization remains poor; however, intervention on the mitral valve appears to benefit those with symptomatic heart failure.
authors.affiliation: The Minneapolis Heart Institute, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Thoralf M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Sundt
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aeppli
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Benico
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barzilai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate