Sameh M. Said, M.D., M.B., B.Ch., a cardiovascular surgeon at Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota, discusses surgical treatment options for severe calcific mitral valve stenosis. Mitral valve surgery in the presence of severe annular calcification is associated with degenerative valvular disease. About 2.8 percent of patients have severe annular calcifications.

"Although mitral valve replacement with annular debridement is the gold standard for treatment," says Dr. Said, "mitral valve bypass is a safe and more practical option in patients at high risk."