Benefits of Mitral Valve Repair
The mitral valve controls the flow of blood in your heart. Various conditions, such as mitral valve stenosis and mitral valve prolapse, can disrupt that flow. When that happens, surgery is needed to correct the problem.
If damage to your mitral valve is less severe, and the valve does not require replacement, your doctor may recommend mitral valve repair. For example, many people with a leaky heart valve are good candidates for valve repair.
Heart valve repair can improve your quality of life by addressing symptoms of mitral valve disease, and help you avoid further damage to your heart.
Dignity Health cardiology specialists are well-versed in advanced diagnostic procedures and treatments, including mitral valve repair. Find a Doctor today using our online tool, and make an appointment to discuss your heart health.
What Should You Expect from Mitral Valve Repair?
Mitral valve repair surgery can often be performed using minimally invasive methods. These methods require shorter recovery periods compared with open heart surgery. Valve repair surgery may also help you avoid risks associated with mitral valve replacement surgery.
The three most common mitral valve repair surgeries are:
- Ring annuloplasty. A device called an annuloplasty ring is stitched around the edges of the mitral valve to provide support for the valve leaflets (tissue flaps that control the flow of blood).
- Valve repair. The mitral valve is accessed through small incisions in the chest to reshape or rebuild damaged valve leaflets
- Balloon valvuloplasty. The surgeon guides a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) to the heart through a major artery and inflates a balloon to stretch the diameter of the mitral valve and improve blood flow.
Recovery from Mitral Valve Repair at Dignity Health
Because mitral valve repair is a minimally invasive procedure, the recovery time is fairly short — a few days to a week. By comparison, recovery from open heart surgery can take up to 12 weeks.
When you are ready to be discharged from the hospital, your health care team will provide instructions on how to care for your incision wound at home and how to take your prescribed medication. Your doctor will inform you about any activity restrictions. You will also be asked to schedule a follow-up appointment so your surgeon can check on your progress.
Our goal at Dignity Health is to help keep your heart beating strong.
Dignity Health offers a range of cardiac care services in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Redwood City.