Midterm outcomes of rheumatic mitral valve repair versus replacement in a dual-centre retrospective study.

Background: Rheumatic mitral valve disease remains a major global health challenge. Determining optimal surgical approaches is critical. This study aimed to identify key repairability factors and compare midterm outcomes of mitral repair versus replacement.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study consecutively enrolled rheumatic mitral valve surgery patients from two centres, excluding those with missing imaging or clinical data. CT angiography and echocardiogram was used to quantitatively assess factors affecting repairability. Inverse probability weighting was applied to balance baseline characteristics between groups, and mid-term outcomes were compared. Independent risk factors for prognosis were also explored.

Results: Among 972 patients, 621 (63.9%) successfully underwent mitral valve repair. Body mass index, diabetes, left atrial diameter, posterior leaflet calcification, anterior leaflet clear zone calcification and annular calcification were identified as independent factors affecting repairability. At a median follow-up of 3.51 years (IQR 1.62-5.14), the repair group demonstrated more favourable outcomes, with significantly reduced mortality and stroke rates compared with the replacement group, while maintaining comparable reoperation rates. Prior percutaneous mitral commissurotomy did not reduce valve repairability (OR=0.588, 95% CI 0.342 to 1.010; p=0.054) but emerged as an independent predictor of reoperation following repair (OR=7.496, 95% CI 1.325 to 42.404; p=0.023).

Conclusions: In well-selected patients, rheumatic mitral valve repair was associated with lower mortality and stroke rates compared with replacement, with comparable reoperation rates. However, patients with a history of percutaneous mitral commissurotomy have a higher risk of reoperation after repair and should be carefully evaluated.

Trial registration number: ChiCTR2200067151.