Mitral Valve Disease

Mitral Regurgitation.

Expert second opinions for mitral regurgitation. Dual-physician Heart Team review with triple risk scoring. Results in 24 hours.

4+ million Americans
Prevalence
Repair mortality <1% at expert centers
Key Outcome
60,000+ mitral procedures annually
Procedures
Quick Answer

Mitral Regurgitation (MR) is the most common valvular heart disease, affecting over 4 million Americans. If you are facing a decision about mitral regurgitation, an independent Heart Team second opinion can confirm whether surgery is the right choice and identify alternatives. WhiteGloveMD delivers dual-physician review with STS, EuroSCORE II, and AATS risk scoring in 24 hours. Get an independent second opinion →

Overview

Understanding mitral regurgitation.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common valvular heart disease, affecting over 4 million Americans. The mitral valve fails to close properly, allowing blood to leak backward into the left atrium. Primary (degenerative) MR involves structural valve abnormalities, while secondary (functional) MR results from LV dysfunction.

Why It Matters

Why you need a second opinion.

The distinction between repair and replacement has profound long-term implications. Repair preserves native valve tissue and avoids anticoagulation, but requires specialized surgical expertise. Surgeon-specific repair rates vary dramatically — from less than 50% to over 99% — and this data is rarely shared with patients.

Critical Decisions

Key decisions for mitral regurgitation.

Repair vs replacement (surgeon repair rates matter enormously)
MitraClip/TEER candidacy for high-risk patients
Timing of intervention for asymptomatic severe MR
Primary vs secondary MR distinction and treatment approach
Concomitant procedures (ablation, tricuspid repair, CABG)
Risk Factors

What affects your risk.

Surgeon-specific repair rates (the single most important variable)
Complexity of valve pathology (P2 prolapse vs Barlow's)
Atrial fibrillation development
Pulmonary hypertension from chronic MR
Right ventricular function
Our Review

What our Heart Team provides.

Dual-physician review (cardiac surgeon + cardiologist)
Triple risk scoring (STS PROM, EuroSCORE II, AATS)
ACC/AHA guideline mapping with evidence grades
Treatment alternatives with risk-benefit comparison
Surgeon and institution matching via Sentinel
Personalized question guide for your next appointment
Complete provenance trail for every conclusion
Results delivered within 24 hours
Common Questions

Frequently asked questions.

Do I need surgery for mitral regurgitation?

Surgery for mitral regurgitation depends on symptom severity, imaging findings, and risk profile. Guidelines from the AHA/ACC define specific thresholds, but many patients fall into gray zones where a second opinion meaningfully changes the recommendation. The distinction between repair and replacement has profound long-term implications. Repair preserves native valve tissue and avoids anticoagulation, but requires specialized surgical expertise. Surgeon-specific repair rates vary dramatically — from less than 50% to over 99% — and this data is rarely shared with patients.

What are the risks of mitral regurgitation surgery?

Operative mortality for mitral regurgitation-related cardiac surgery is calculated using validated models including STS PROM, EuroSCORE II, and AATS. Individual risk depends on age, comorbidities, frailty, ejection fraction, and surgeon/center volume. Our free calculator at whiteglovemd.com/tools/risk-calculator estimates your specific risk across all three models in real time.

Should I get a second opinion before mitral regurgitation surgery?

Yes. Studies show that 30-40% of expert cardiac surgery second opinions change the original treatment plan — sometimes by recommending less-invasive alternatives, sometimes by clarifying that watchful waiting is safer. WhiteGloveMD pairs a cardiac surgeon and cardiologist with our Clintelligence multi-agent AI pipeline to deliver an independent review in 24 hours, starting at $500.

What is the best treatment for mitral regurgitation?

The optimal treatment for mitral regurgitation depends on anatomy, comorbidities, age, and personal goals. Repair vs replacement (surgeon repair rates matter enormously). A Heart Team review evaluates every viable option — including transcatheter approaches, repair vs replacement, and surgeon/center matching — rather than defaulting to a single recommendation.

Clinical References
  1. Obadia JF, Messika-Zeitoun D, Leurent G, et al. Percutaneous Repair or Medical Treatment for Secondary Mitral Regurgitation (MITRA-FR). N Engl J Med. 2018;379(24):2297-2306.
  2. Stone GW, Lindenfeld J, Abraham WT, et al. Transcatheter Mitral-Valve Repair in Patients with Heart Failure (COAPT). N Engl J Med. 2018;379(24):2307-2318.
  3. Otto CM, Nishimura RA, Bonow RO, et al. 2020 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Management of Patients With Valvular Heart Disease — Mitral Valve Section. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021;77(4):e25-e197.
  4. O'Brien SM, Feng L, He X, et al. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons 2018 Adult Cardiac Surgery Risk Models. Ann Thorac Surg. 2018;105(5):1411-1418.
  5. Nashef SAM, Roques F, Sharples LD, et al. EuroSCORE II. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2012;41(4):734-745.

Reading on mitral regurgitation

See all articles →
Treatment Options
MitraClip and Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair: What Patients Need to Know Before Saying Yes

A fellowship-trained interventional cardiologist explains how MitraClip and edge-to-edge mitral repair work, who benefits most, and why understanding the nuances of transcatheter mitral valve repair matters before you commit to a procedure.

Sandeep M. Patel, MD · May 4, 2026
Treatment Options
Mitral Valve Repair vs. Replacement: A Cardiac Surgeon's Guide to Your Best Option

Facing mitral valve surgery? Understanding the difference between repair and replacement — and which one gives you the best long-term outcome — is one of the most important decisions you will make. A fellowship-trained cardiac surgeon explains the options.

Rahul R. Handa, MD · May 4, 2026
Risk Assessment
EuroSCORE II Explained: What This European Cardiac Surgery Risk Score Means for Your Heart Surgery Decision

EuroSCORE II is one of the most widely used risk calculators in cardiac surgery worldwide. Learn what the European cardiac surgery risk score actually measures, how it compares to the STS risk model, and why understanding your score matters before you consent to an operation.

Serrie Lico, MD · May 24, 2026
Diagnostics
Cardiac Stress Test Results: What Your Exercise Echo or Nuclear Stress Test Actually Means

A world-class imaging cardiologist explains how to read and understand your cardiac stress test results — whether you had an exercise stress echo, nuclear stress test, or pharmacologic study. Learn what abnormal findings really mean for your heart and what comes next.

Kunal U. Gurav, MD · May 23, 2026

Related conditions.

Mitral Stenosis
Mitral Valve Prolapse
Aortic Regurgitation
Tricuspid Regurgitation
Pulmonary Valve Disease
Robotic Cardiac Surgery

Get an expert opinion on your mitral regurgitation.

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