Surgical treatment for functional mitral regurgitation.

Surgery for functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) was reviewed. As the mechanism of FMR is still being elucidated, surgery for FMR, especially ischemic mitral regurgitation evolved from coronary bypass surgery (CABG) with/without mitral valve replacement, to repair mitral leaflet/chordate/papillary muscles and the left ventricle is required. Currently, the best efforts are made regarding the treatment of mitral leaflet tethering or tenting including that of the posterior leaflet and the treatment of ventricular disease. Although the understanding of FMR is increased and the surgical repair technique becomes more sophisticated, prognosis of the patient is not necessarily satisfactory when the amount of residual myocardium is limited. Further investigation is necessary to solve the problem of ventricular disease.