Key result
Mitral valve repair in elderly patients with mitral regurgitation is associated with lower short-term mortality and higher long-term survival compared to mitral valve replacement.
Why the study?
Does mitral valve repair improve short-term mortality and long-term survival in elderly patients with mitral regurgitation compared to mitral valve replacement?
Does mitral valve repair improve short-term mortality and long-term survival in elderly patients with mitral regurgitation compared to mitral valve replacement?
Mitral valve repair is generally advisable over replacement in elderly patients with mitral regurgitation due to better survival, though specific etiologies may still warrant replacement.
The meta-analysis by Di Tommaso et al. demonstrated as elderly patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) undergoing mitral valve repair had lower short-term mortality and higher long-term survival with respect to patients undergoing mitral valve replacement. The benefit of repair is such, that initial surgical strategy is advisable in the elderly even in case of mild symptoms if compared with conservative management. However, even if repair can be performed in presence of some specific etiologies, as degenerative MR or secondary MR, there are always cases where a replacement can be an acceptable solution compared to a repair with uncertain future, regardless of our believes and our technical ability.
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Calafiore et al. (2021) conducted an editorial in Mitral regurgitation. Mitral valve repair vs. Mitral valve replacement was evaluated on Short-term mortality and long-term survival. Mitral valve repair in elderly patients with mitral regurgitation is associated with lower short-term mortality and higher long-term survival compared to mitral valve replacement.
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