Recurrent mitral regurgitation late after annuloplasty for ischemic mitral regurgitation.

In 106 patients who had mitral annuloplasty for ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR), 71 patients (67%) had satisfactory outcomes with <2+ MR (grade 0-4) throughout the follow-up period (44 ± 31 months), while 35 patients (33%) had significant recurrent MR (≥2+) late after annuloplasty (≥6 months) during the follow-up period (45 ± 30 months). Compared to those with recurrent MR, the success group had a significantly higher proportion of patients whose left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) stayed stable or increased over the follow-up period postoperatively (47/70 = 67% vs. 14/35 = 40%, P < 0.01). The success group had a higher proportion of patients whose LV end-systolic volume stayed stable or decreased (37/63 = 59% vs. 6/35 = 17%, P < 0.01) and lower LV sphericity in systole (0.46 ± 0.096 vs. 0.60 ± 0.10, P < 0.01). In conclusion, recurrent ischemic MR after annuloplasty is associated with increasing LV size, decreasing LVEF, and increasing sphericity of the LV.