Non-ischemic severe mitral regurgitation: When and how to operate? The role of echocardiography

Mitral regurgitation is a common but complex valvular heart disease. In severe mitral regurgitation, the regurgitant volume increases by about 7.5 mL per year and the effective regurgitant orifice increases by about 5.9 mm² per year. Severe mitral regurgitation can produce left ventricular remodeling and finally irreversible left ventricular dysfunction. Ninety percent of patients with severe mitral regurgitation caused by flail mitral valve undergo surgery or die. The optimal timing of mitral valve surgery in patients with severe mitral regurgitation is crucial. In recent years, mitral valve repair has been shown to be better than mitral valve replacement for both short- and long-term outcome. Important issues such as reducing operative mortality, improving long-term survival and improving the rate of mitral valve repair are crucial when considering mitral valve surgery. Echocardiography allows the reliable identification of the presence, severity, etiology and mechanisms as well as the pathologic lesions of mitral regurgitation. The following questions relating to echocardiography should be asked before patients undergo surgery: (1) Is the mitral regurgitation organic or functional? (2) When is the optimal time for surgery? (3) What is the etiology of mitral regurgitation? (4) Where is the lesion(s)? (5) Can the mitral valve be repaired? (6) Which surgical technique is most appropriate? Quantitative assessment of the severity of mitral regurgitation is essential for the optimal timing of surgery. Transesophageal echocardiography as well as three-dimensional echocardiography can help to identify the etiology, mechanisms and pathologic lesions prior to possible mitral valve repair.