Introduction
Mitral valve repair is recommended by the U.S. and European guidelines
as the gold standard operation for degenerative mitral valve disease,
because it preserves the patient’s native valve with excellent long-term
durability and avoids the risks associated with valve replacement,
including endocarditis and the need for long- term
anticoagulation1-3. Repair feasibility may be affected
by factors including complexity of valve pathology, concomitant
procedures, and the general condition of the patient. Various techniques
have been described for mitral valve repair. These include triangular
resection, quadrangular resection with annular plication or sliding
annuloplasty, folding plasty and Goretex neochordae placement for
posterior leaflet pathology. Anterior leaflet prolapse is usually
repaired by either chordae replacement or chordae transfer. Complete
ring or partial band techniques are considered standard components of
annuloplasties as they stabilize the repair4-6.
Surgeon volume is commonly used as a surrogate for surgeon experience
and is associated with higher valve repair rates, freedom from
reoperation, and 1-year survival7. This study explores
the impact of surgeon experience and surgical techniques on the outcomes
of mitral valve surgery for degenerative valve regurgitation.