Chronic ischemic mitral valve regurgitation and surgical perspectives

Chronic ischemic mitral valve regurgitation is a result of disturbed left ventricular geometry secondary to myocardial ischemia in the absence of intrinsic mitral valve pathology. It is a common complication after myocardial infarction, and patients who have ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) have a worse prognosis compared to patients who have ischemic heart disease alone, and this is directly related to the severity of IMR. Medical therapy has limited efficacy, and surgical options including various repair techniques and valve replacement had been tried with variable success. Still there is intense debate among surgeons whether to interfere with moderate degree IMR at the time of coronary artery revascularization.