Chronic Mitral Regurgitation - When And How To Operate

A 51-year-old man was referred for evaluation of significant mitral regurgitation. He had known of a heart murmur for at least 10 years, but had been asymptomatic throughout this time period. He was first evaluated by his family physician for this in 1989. At that time, an echocardiogram showed myxomatous degeneration of the mitral valve with prolapse of the posterior leaflet and moderate mitral regurgitation.