Mitral repair: an extending application in mitral valve surgery

Mitral valve surgery remains to be one of the commonest encounters in cardiac surgery practice in Egypt, the concept of valve repair versus replacement is growing and more surgeons prefer the former technique due to the age incidence and presentation. The majority of the patients in our study were adolescents and young adults [age 9- 63 years - mean 24 years]. Female gender was more prevalent and almost 74% of which were in the childbearing period. Isolated mitral valve surgery was 63% of cases; the rest was combined coronary surgery and other valve surgery 36.2% and one case valve surgery with CABG 0.8%. Our results showed that group A which underwent mitral valve repair [58 case] had a slightly better success rate significantly lower incidence of postoperative complications and mortality rate and lead a more physiologic healthy almost normal life during postoperative follow up. In the group with mitral replacement the adoption of preserving the posterior cusp and its subvalvular apparatus proved to be much superior than total excision of both cusps, our immediate and long term follow up proved better results in this subgroup. In conclusion mitral valve repair if properly done give superior results and life style than patients who needed mitral valve replacement and if this was inevitable partial preservation of mitral valve improves both short and long term results