Mitral valve replacement versus repair in 2003: where do we stand?
Mitral valve repair as a proportion of all mitral valve procedures continues to become more prominent in this country. As the procedures are performed more frequently and concomitantly surgeons become more comfortable performing these repairs, risks and benefits (compared with mitral valve replacement) have become better defined. The patient population and valve morphology that are most favorable for the repair approach have also been better defined, and new techniques (including minimally invasive approaches) have been reported. A prominent question remains: what to do about ischemic mitral regurgitation.
DeAnda
Abe
A
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System/Medical College of Virginia, Richmond 23298, USA. adeanda@nsc1.nsc.vcu.edu
Kasirajan
Vigneshwar
V
Higgins
Robert S D
RS
D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*