Two surgical options are currently used for the correction of mitral valve disease - mitral valve repair and mitral valve replacement. Each mitral valve surgery option has its advantages and disadvantages, and therefore, the indications for each option are somewhat different.
According to American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Valvular Heart Disease, in most cases, "mitral valve repair is the operation of choice when the valve is suitable for repair and appropriate surgical skill and expertise are available." Mitral valve repair preserves your native valve without the need for a prosthetic valve and therefore avoids the risk of chronic anticoagulation (except for patients in atrial fibrillation) or prosthetic valve failure in the future.
Risks
Every surgery carries some risk. The amount depends on factors such as your age and overall health. Risks may include bleeding, infection and lung or heart problems. In some cases, a pacemaker may be needed. In rare instances, stroke or kidney failure may occur. With either a valve repair or valve replacement, you may need additional valve surgery at some point in your life.
Contact
For more information regarding mitral valve disease and the treatments available, please contact the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at (866) 662-8467, or request an appointment online.
Visit the Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Health Learning Center and Alberto Culver Women's Health Learning Center. These state-of-the-art health information libraries are among the largest hospital-based learning facilities of their kind. For more information call (312) 926-5465.
Mitral Valve Surgery
Before Surgery
Day before Surgery
Day of Surgery
During Surgery
After Surgery
Review Date: 08/07
