title: Mitral repair best practice: proposed standards.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To define best practice standards for mitral valve repair surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Development of standards for process and outcome by consensus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multidisciplinary panel of surgeons, anaesthetists, and cardiologists with interests and expertise in caring for patients with severe mitral regurgitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standards for best practice were defined including the full spectrum of multidisciplinary aspects of care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  19 criteria for best practice were defined including recommendations on surgical training, intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography, surgery for atrial fibrillation, audit, and cardiology and imaging issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Standards for best practice in mitral valve repair were defined by multidisciplinary consensus. This study gives centres undertaking mitral valve repair an opportunity to benchmark their care against agreed standards that are challenging but achievable. Working towards these standards should act as a stimulus towards improvements in care.
authors.affiliation: South Manchester University Hospital, Southmoor Road, Manchester, UK. ben.bridgewater@smuht.nwest.nhs.uk
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bridgewater
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hooper
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Munsch
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: von Oppell
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Livesey
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Keogh
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kneeshaw
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Masani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ray
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery; D002309:Cardiology / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D003253:Consultants; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008485:Medical Audit; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000592:standards*; D012015:Reference Standards; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006113:United Kingdom