Surgical Treatment of Functional Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation

After myocardial infarction, functional ischemic mitral regurgitation (FIMR) is present in 21% of patients, and 3-13% have at least moderate FIMR. Currently, the 'gold-standard' treatment of FIMR is down-sized ring annuloplasty at the time of coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery. However, this procedure has a failure rate of 20-30% in terms of recurrent FIMR after two to four years. In many ways, a cross-roads has been reached in terms of what constitutes optimal FIMR treatment: Is CABG combined with mitral valve ring annuloplasty better than CABG alone in moderate FIMR? Does mitral valve repair really produce better outcome than mitral valve replacement? And does adding an adjunct valvular repair or subvalvular left ventricular reverse remodeling procedure shift that balance? In order to shed further light on these questions and to help identify potential cornerstones in improving the 'gold standard' therapy, the present review addresses the current status and future perspectives of the surgical treatment of FIMR.