Is a good perioperative echocardiographic result predictive of durability in ischemic mitral valve repair?
GROUND: Chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation is associated with poor long-term survival. Despite the increasing popularity of valve repair, its durability and long-term outcome for ischemic mitral regurgitation have recently been questioned. METHODS: Seventy-eight patients underwent repair for ischemic mitral regurgitation between 1996 and 2002 at our institution. Of these patients, 73 had complete clinical and echocardiographic follow-up. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative clinical data were obtained, and the results of echocardiograms were reviewed to assess the rate of recurrence of regurgitation after repair and to identify predictive factors. RESULTS: The mean preoperative mitral regurgitation grade, New York Heart Association class, and left ventricular ejection fraction were 2.72, 2.65, and 39.4%, respectively. Mortality was 12.3% at 30 days and 30.1% at a mean follow-up of 39 +/- 25 months. Immediate postoperative echocardiography showed absent or mild mitral regu
