Contemporary review of the evolution of various treatment modalities for mitral regurgitation

Mitral regurgitation is one of the most common forms of valvular heart diseases for which there have been several innovative treatment strategies that have developed over the last several decades. We describe the various treatment modalities that have been used for the last several decades. All articles in PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase were screened from inception to August 2024 for the following - 'Mitral valve regurgitation' 'Mitral valve repair' 'Mitral valve replacement' 'Robotic mitral surgery' 'Transcatheter mitral valve repair.'

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is classified into primary and secondary MR. Causes of primary MR include degenerative disease, rheumatic heart disease, and infective endocarditis. Secondary MR is observed in the setting of left ventricle (LV) pathology, including ischemic or dilated cardiomyopathy. In secondary MR, annular dilation, papillary muscle displacement, tethering of chordae tendineae and/or mitral valve (MV) leaflets result in leaflet restriction and malcoaptation.

In this review, we discuss various modalities for the treatment of mitral regurgitation, as well as newer treatment options for MR including robotic MV repair and other minimally invasive procedures. Several ongoing randomized controlled trials in this topic will help shed more light and provide guidance to deliver the optimal care for our patients.