Transcatheter Mitral Valve Intervention in Advanced Heart Failure

Unlike the taxonomy of cardiac valves based on location (pulmonary or aortic) or leaflet number (tricuspid), the mitral valve designation is an iconic one. Vesalius recognized the sheer complexity of this valve apparatus and chose to brand it after a bishop's headgear, the mitre, due to its likeness.1 Characteristically, physiological competence of the mitral valve is dependent on the competitive intersection of 5 distinct factors. These include an interplay between a) left atrial size (and possibly function), b) left ventricular dilation and contractile performance, c) chordal tendons and papillary muscle alignment, integrity and function, d) mitral annular shape, size and function and finally, e) the anterior and posterior valvular leaflets and their scallops.
Source: The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation - Category: Transplant Surgery Authors: Source Type: research