Mitral valve repair or replacement for ischaemic mitral regurgitation: a systematic review

A literature review was undertaken according to Cochrane guidelines to identify whether mitral valve repair (MV-Repair) or replacement (MV-Replacement) is more effective in patients with moderate to severe ischaemic mitral regurgitation. The literature suggests MV-Repair may have improved 30-day mortality and long-term survival. All 12 studies identified, however, were non-randomised, retrospective, and at significant risk of bias due to heterogeneous surgical techniques and mismatched patient characteristics. Data describing the need for reoperation were not sufficiently well reported to analyse. Functional outcomes and health-related quality of life were not reported. In conclusion, high-quality randomised comparison of MV-Repair and MV-Replacement is urgently needed.