Mitral repair or bioprosthetic replacement for rheumatic valve drseascs in elderly patients

Objective Mitral valve replacement is more frequently performed in elder patients with rheumatic valve diseases. Mitral valve repair may be feasible in young patients with suitable anatomy in rheumatic mitral valve disease, but still controversial in elder patients. Our study was to compare mitral repair to bioprosthetic replacement in patients aged 60 years or older. Methods Eighty two patients(age ≥60 years) underwent mitral valve surgery(mitral repair or bioprosthetic replacement)in our single institution from January 2014 to January 2016 were reviewed, including 25 cases of repair(MVP) and 57 cases of bioprosthetic replacement(MVR). 5 years follow-up oganalysis. Results Mean age in MVP and MVR was 64.43 years and 67.28 years, respectively. There were no statistically differences in extracorporeal circulation time(P=0.99) and aorta blocking time(P=0.88); the operative mortality rate in MVR was 5.3% while none in MVP(P=0.24). During follow-up 6 deaths happened in MVR, 4 of them died from MACE while the other 2 died from other causes. There was no death in MVP(P=0.17). No redo or other complications were found during follow-up. Conclusion In patients aged 60 years or older with rheumatic mitral valve disease, mitral repair is associated with a same perioperative and mid-term result compared with bioprosthetic replacement. Rheumatic mitral valves could be repaired in elderly patients. Key words: Mitral valve insafficiency; Mitral valve repair; Bioprosthesis; Elderly