Heart Failure Readmission After Mitral Valve Repair and Replacement: Five-Year Follow-Up in the Medicare Population

Hospital readmission after mitral surgery is high. Preoperative heart failure is associated with higher postoperative readmission rates. Because admission for heart failure accounts for a significant proportion of these readmissions, close follow-up of patients with known mitral valve disease and referral to surgery prior to development of heart failure may decrease postoperative readmission rates.