The Right Answer

DECIDING whether and how best to intervene for valvular heart disease at the time of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery remains a complex decision-making process. Recently, the guidelines published to assist with these decisions were revised in part due to new studies evaluating the appropriateness of surgical intervention for moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR) at the time of CABG surgery and for mitral valve replacement (MVR) versus repair for severe symptomatic ischemic MR.1 –6 Known limitations of assessing the severity of MR with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the operating room under general anesthesia with mechanical ventilation further complicate the decision-making process.
Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research