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.