Which condition is most directly treated with valve repair or replacement?

Which condition is most directly treated with valve repair or replacement?

• A. Mitral Valve Stenosis
• B. Mitral Regurgitation
• C. Aortic Valve Stenosis
• D. Tricuspid Regurgitation

Answer: (B)

Mitral regurgitation is the one that is most directly addressed by valve repair or replacement. When the mitral valve leaks because the leaflets don’t close properly, the definitive fix is to restore valve competence—often with a repair (such as annuloplasty to tighten the annulus or leaflet repair) or, if repair isn’t feasible, replacement with a prosthetic valve. Mitral stenosis, by contrast, is typically treated by relieving obstruction rather than repairing the valve’s closing mechanism—most commonly with balloon valvotomy or surgical commissurotomy, especially when anatomy is favorable. Aortic valve stenosis is also treated with valve replacement to remove the obstructing lesion, rather than primarily repairing the existing valve. Tricuspid regurgitation can be repaired or replaced, but the scenario most classically illustrating direct valve correction is mitral regurgitation, where restoring valve closure is the central therapeutic goal.

Mitral regurgitation is the one that is most directly addressed by valve repair or replacement. When the mitral valve leaks because the leaflets don’t close properly, the definitive fix is to restore valve competence—often with a repair (such as annuloplasty to tighten the annulus or leaflet repair) or, if repair isn’t feasible, replacement with a prosthetic valve.

Mitral stenosis, by contrast, is typically treated by relieving obstruction rather than repairing the valve’s closing mechanism—most commonly with balloon valvotomy or surgical commissurotomy, especially when anatomy is favorable. Aortic valve stenosis is also treated with valve replacement to remove the obstructing lesion, rather than primarily repairing the existing valve. Tricuspid regurgitation can be repaired or replaced, but the scenario most classically illustrating direct valve correction is mitral regurgitation, where restoring valve closure is the central therapeutic goal.