[Does mitral valve annuloplasty improve long-term survival in patients having moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation...

The best surgical approach for patients with moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is still undetermined. We examined long term outcomes in patients with moderate IMR undergoing coronary bypass (CABG), and compared outcomes between those undergoing isolated CABG to those undergoing concomitant restrictive annuloplasty.

Between the years 1993-2011, 231 patients with moderate IMR underwent CABG: group 1 (n = 186) underwent isolated CABG, group 2 (n = 15) underwent CABG with concomitant mitral valve annuloplasty. Univariate analysis was used to compare baseline parameters. Kaplan-Meier estimates were used to compare survival. Cox multivariate regression was used to determine predictors for late survival. Survival data up to 20 years is 97% complete.

The groups were similar with respect to age, prior MI, LV function, and incidence of atrial fibrillation. Patients undergoing mitral repair had a higher incidence of congestive heart failure (CHF) (p < 0.0001). After surgery more repair patients required use of inotropes (p = 0.0005). Overall operative mortality was 7% and similar between groups. Ten year survival was 55% and 52% for groups 1 and 2 respectively (p = 0.2). Predictors of late mortality included age, CHF, LV dimensions and LV dysfunction. Neither the addition of a mitral procedure and type of ring implanted nor residual MR after surgery, emerged as predictors of survival.

In patients with moderate ischemic MR, neither operative mortality nor long term survival are affected by the performance of a restrictive annuloplasty. For patients with CHF, mitral repair may be beneficial in terms of survival.