Mitral Valve Repair

A mitral valve repair preserves the patient’s own mitral valve.

The surgery can be performed as a standard open-heart surgery or as an endoscopic minimally invasive mitral procedure also called a mini-mitral.

The endoscopic procedure only uses small incisions with less pain in the postoperative period.

As a standard we offer endoscopic mitral surgery (if surgically possible).

Which mitral valve defects can be repaired?

All defective mitral valves can be repaired but the severity of the defect can prevent a satisfactory surgical result:

• Mitral valve insufficiency
• Combination of insufficiency and stenosis

Benefits of mitral valve repair

• To avoid anticoagulation drugs:  After insertion of a mechanical valve anticoagulation therapi with Coumadin or warfarin is vital to avoid clottinf of the blood. This increases the risk of internal bleeding.
• To reduce the risk of infection of the diseased valve and valve prosthesis
• To preserve cardiac function: Clinical studies has shown that the normal function of the heart is better preserved by a mitral valve repair procedure. After insertion of prosthetic valve a 15-20% reduction of left ventricle function is often seenprevent infection of the defect valve or valve prosthesis

Which surgery procedure will be the best for me?

A small percentageof diseased mitral valve is not suitable for repair and replacement will be indicated. The decision to repair or replace the heart valve is based on a number of complex factors and is unique to each patient. The Heart surgeon will interact with the patient and in each case decide which operation to perform.