Mitral Valve Replacement

Mitral valve replacement is a surgery to replace a damaged mitral valve with a man-made or tissue replacement valve to reduce symptoms of mitral stenosis (when the valve narrows and reduces blood flow to the body) or mitral regurgitation (when blood flows back into the lungs, triggering irregular heartbeat, chest pain and shortness of breath).

Who Is A Candidate?

Surgery may be required if problems in the mitral valve are causing symptoms or heart failure, if heart function has been reduced, or if the valve has become infected. Patients with severe mitral valve prolapse are also candidates.

What Happens During Surgery?

The surgery, performed while the patient is under general anesthesia, may be an open procedure through a large incision in the chest or a minimally invasive procedure through several small incisions. Patients are put on a heart-lung bypass machine while the valve is being replaced.

What Are The Risks?

Patients may develop blood clots or breathing problems. Heart attack, stroke, infection, bleeding, heart rhythm problems, muddled thinking and post-pericardiotomy syndrome, which involves persistent fever and chest pain, may also occur.

To learn more, please call 833-271-0338.

SOURCES: AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY; AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION; NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE; THE SOCIETY FOR CARDIOVASCULAR ANGIOGRAPHY AND INTERVENTIONS