New expert consensus pathway for mitral regurgitation

(HealthDay)—Identification of mitral regurgitation (MR) should prompt evaluation of its etiology, mechanism, severity, and indications for treatment, according to an expert consensus decision pathway published online Oct. 18 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Patrick T. O'Gara, M.D., from Harvard Medical School in Boston, and colleagues developed an expert consensus pathway to provide guidance for decision making in MR management.

The researchers note that the etiology, mechanism, and severity of MR should be defined after its identification; quantitative echocardiography and other testing should be used as necessary. For effective patient management, standardized echocardiographic reporting and timely access to accurate information are critical. To enable shared decision making, a heart valve team consensus treatment recommendation should be discussed with the patient and family; ongoing communication between members of the heart team and the referring provider is strongly endorsed. Use of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair is currently limited in the United States and is used in symptomatic patients with primary, severe MR who are poor operative candidates. Long-term follow-up of patients is essential for assessment of durability, functional outcomes, and survival.

"This expert consensus decision pathway provides the clinician with additional tools to improve the care of MR patients," the authors write. "It can serve as a guide to patient assessment and individualized decision making."

Several authors disclosed financial ties to the biopharmaceutical and medical device industries.

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