Impact of early surgery on survival of patients with severe mitral regurgitation

481 patients with severe, degenerative mitral regurgitation from the Duke Cardiovascular Disease Databank fulfilling at least one ACC/AHA guideline indication for surgery. Exclusions: rheumatic disease, congenital mitral valve disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, coronary disease in more than one vessel, endocarditis, other severe valve disease, history of valve repair/replacement.

Early surgery (within ≤ 2 months of presenting with surgical indications)

Late surgery (>2 months) or medical management

Time to deathhard clinical