JUAN CRESTANELLO: Welcome to the cardiovascular surgery series, where I discuss the latest research in cardiovascular surgery from the Mayo Clinic in just two minutes. I am Dr. Juan Crestanello. I am a cardiac surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

In this study, we continue to explore the topic of mitral annulus calcification. This study analyzed the impact of surgery versus medical management on survival of patients with mitral annulus calcification and CVR mitral dysfunction. Patients with MAC and severe mitral stenosis or agitation were identified from the Mayo ECHO database from echocardiograms performed in 2015, and is stratified on those who had mitral valve surgery and those who had no intervention within a year of the diagnosis. The endpoint of the study was survival.

357 patients were identified. 30% of the patients had surgery, and 70% of the patients had medical management. The median follow-up was 3.2 years. The patients who underwent surgery had a higher survival than those without intervention, 80% versus 72% at one year, and 55% versus 35% at four years.

We conclude that patients with mitral calcification and severe mitral valve disease who underwent mitral valve surgery within a year of their diagnosis had lower mortality than those without intervention. Thank you for listening to the Mayo Clinic cardiovascular surgery series.