title: Mitral valve repair in patients with end stage cardiomyopathy: who benefits?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with end stage cardiomyopathy frequently present with additional severe mitral regurgitation. We analyzed the outcome of mitral valve reconstruction in this high risk patient group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six patients with significant mitral regurgitation and an ejection fraction (EF) below 30% (dilated cardiomyopathy=53, ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM)=13) were retrospectively evaluated from 07/96 and 02/02. All received annuloplasty ring implantation and additional repair (n=4) if required. Mean follow-up was 28+/-18 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mitral valve repair (MVR) was technically feasible in all patients. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed none (n=60) or only trivial (n=6) residual mitral regurgitation. Thirty day mortality was 6.1%. Actuarial survival after 1 and 5 years was 86+/-4 and 66+/-8%, respectively. During follow-up seven patients were transplanted due to lack of clinical improvement after 10+/-7 months (range 1-23). Echocardiography revealed a significant improvement in EF (25+/-10.5% pre-op, 34+/-15% post-op) and a slight decrease in left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (69+/-10 mm pre-op, 67+/-13 mm follow up). Patients were in NYHA functional -class 3 (median) preoperatively and in class 2 at long term-follow-up. Gender, left ventricular enddiastolic diameter, preoperative ejection fraction or type of surgical approach (sternotomy, right lateral minithoracotomy) had no significant influence on patient outcome. Patients with ICM or patients older than 60 years showed an increased risk for clinical events both early post-operatively and at long-term follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MVR can be performed with low perioperative morbidity and mortality even in patients with advanced heart failure, modifying selection criteria for potential candidates may further improve long term outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Leipzig, Heartcenter, Struempellstrasse 39, 04289, Leipzig, Germany. gumj@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
authors.forename: Jan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gummert
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahmel
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bucerius
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Onnasch
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Doll
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Walther
authors.forename: Volkmar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.forename: Friedrich W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Mohr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors