title: Future directions in degenerative mitral valve repair.
abstract: Mitral valve repair is by far the most common operation for degenerative mitral regurgitation. If the procedure is performed before left ventricular dysfunction occurs and atrial fibrillation develops, the operative risk is very low and life expectancy is super imposable to that of the sex- and age-matched population. Despite these achievements, there are areas that could still be improved. Progress in treating degenerative mitral regurgitation is expected to move along several directions. More precise diagnostic methods will be developed to reliably quantify mitral regurgitation and identify early irreversible ventricular and atrial changes. The refinement of surgical techniques and search for new, innovative solutions should never be abandoned. Finally, transcatheter correction of mitral regurgitation represents a new, emerging field of cardiovascular medicine and is expected to have a significant impact on the surgical practice in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, San Raffaele University Hospital, Milan, Italy. ottavio.alfieri@hsr.it
authors.forename: Ottavio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alfieri
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Bonis
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maisano
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Canna
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D013997:Time Factors