Mitral Valve Repair and Replacement

The mitral valve is an architecturally intricate structure, the pathology of which is broadly divided into regurgitation or stenosis, any of which can lead to congestive heart failure. Herein we describe the operative management of these disease processes, which requires a solid familiarity of the intimate relationships of the mitral valve with its surrounding structures, a clear understanding of the varying etiologies of valvular pathology, and a grasp of the natural history of disease progression.