When Is Mitral Valve Surgery Necessary?}

When Is Mitral Valve Surgery Necessary?

by

Jordan Rocksmith

The prospect of heart surgery is a frightening one, but it may be necessary to save your life. Two of the most common types of heart surgery are mitral valve repair and replacement. Keep reading to learn more about these procedures and why they may be necessary.

What Does a Mitral Valve Do?

For your heart to be able to work properly, blood has to flow in one direction. Valves like the mitral valve open and close at certain times, allowing blood to flow in the correct direction. The mitral valve is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle. The left side of the heart is responsible for directing oxygenated blood from the lungs outward to nourish the rest of the body.

What Causes a Valve to Fail?

Mitral valve failure can be caused by a congenital defect, but it more commonly occurs as you age. Old age and heart disease can cause the valve to become weak and not close all the way. This usually happens gradually over time, and you will probably not notice any signs for a long time. Trauma to your chest and heart may also cause the valve to fail more suddenly. Other conditions that affect the heart, such as heart attack and high blood pressure, can also cause damage to your mitral valve.

What Happens When Your Mitral Valve Fails?

Mitral valve failure occurs in 2 different ways. The first is a valve that doesnt close all the way. This allows blood to leak back into the lungs. The second type of valve failure is when the valve becomes calcified or hardened. This restricts the amount of blood that is able to flow through the valve. Either of these conditions can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, heart murmur, and fatigue. It is common for a minor valve problem to go completely unnoticed, and the problem may only be spotted by your doctor.

How Surgery Can Help

If your doctor detects a problem with your mitral valve, he will usually recommend surgery to prevent it from getting worse. This is important because the damage to your heart will only get worse over time. It will also cause the rest of your heart to work harder, which can cause additional complications. If your mitral valve fails, it can cause heart failure or fluid buildup in your lungs.

Types of Surgery

For minor mitral valve problems, your doctor may only need to insert a catheter into your heart to make sure blood is able to flow properly. Catheterization is also used to let doctors perform additional tests on your heart. For more serious mitral valve problems, you may need to have the valve repaired or replaced. A replacement valve will either be mechanical or biological. Biological valves–usually made from cow or pig tissue–have less of a risk of blood clots but are not quite as durable as mechanical valves. Most mitral valve repair and all valve replacement is done with open-heart surgery, but in some cases, your doctor may have the option of using minimally invasive surgery for your valve repair, where he will work through a few small incisions.

How Successful Is Mitral Valve Surgery?

Minimally invasive mitral valve repair surgery has an extremely high success rate, with only about 5% of patients experiencing significant side effects. The less invasive the procedure, the higher the success rate. However, even with open-heart surgery, most patients can return to their normal lives after their recovery and rehabilitation, which usually takes several months to complete. In some cases, you may be required to take an anticoagulant like Coumadin after your surgery, and possibly for the rest of your life. This helps prevent life-threatening clots from forming around the valve.

NYU Cardiac and Vascular

offer virtually every treatment option-including the latest minimally invasive cardiac surgery techniques-using an individualized approach that returns patients to their daily routines as safely, comfortably, and quickly as possible.Visit our page on

med.nyu.edu/cardiac-surgery/

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When Is Mitral Valve Surgery Necessary? }