Relationship between surgical volume and mitral valve repair rates in reference centers

During the last decade, several findings have significantly changed the understanding, prognosis, and management of mitral valve regurgitation including genetic and arrhythmogenic characterization of mitral valve prolapse, new advanced imaging techniques that allow precise quantification and flow analysis, and the adoption and spread of repair techniques. Without doubt, the development of mitral valve repair in reference centers has radically changed the clinical prognosis of patients with severe mitral regurgitation. The key role of these centers is already a reality in every expert consensus, and of course, in every cardiovascular guideline. Particularly if we talk about asymptomatic mitral valve regurgitation. However, the clinical philosophy and structure of reference centers still remain unknown for many physicians. The following aims to clarify and establish every requirement to have a reference center and also demonstrates the strong link between surgical volume and repair durability.