US experts today released new guidelines on the management of ischaemic mitral regurgitation.
The guidelines from the American Association for Thoracic Surgery focus on optimal surgical approaches and are based on the best available evidence, the developers say.
As an example, they have produced detailed guidance on whether to repair or replace the mitral valve in severe cases.
Existing guidance provides no advice on this, they say.
When the problem is moderate, the guidance says, repair can be considered at the time of performing a coronary artery bypass graft.
There are also sections on optimal imaging of the problem – and whether to use percutaneous transcatheter repair.
The guidelines are published in The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.
Professor Irving Kron, of the University of Virginia, USA, who chaired development of the guidelines, said: “We acknowledge that ischaemic mitral regurgitation remains a challenging situation for the clinician and surgeon.
"However, emerging data has provided an opportunity for more guided recommendations for this patient population. These guidelines will continue to evolve as more data is reported in the future."
2016 Update to the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) Consensus Guidelines: Ischemic Mitral Valve Regurgitation (IMR) The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 18 April 2017 [abstract]
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