The mitral valve, which separates the left atrium from the left ventricle and regulates blood flow between these two chambers, may fail to function properly due to conditions such as mitral valve regurgitation or stenosis. In such cases, the mitral valve can be repaired to restore its function. These repair surgeries are performed through small incisions made either from the front or the side, allowing the patient’s own valve tissue to be preserved.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are various methods for mitral valve repair. All these methods aim to repair the structures that cause dysfunction in the mitral valve. The mitral valve is composed of different elements, including two small leaflets. Most procedures involve intervention on these leaflets. Enlarged sections are trimmed and repaired, or if they are shrunken, patches are used to expand the leaflets. If there is a rupture or elongation in the chordae tendineae (the string-like structures beneath the leaflets), new chordae are created or the existing ones are repaired. While some patients may require all of these procedures, others may only need one. Generally, each repair is completed by placing a ring around the mitral valve.

Mitral valve repair does not differ in terms of risk from other heart valve surgeries. In every patient, a heart-lung machine is used, and the heart is stopped to access the mitral valve, making this an open-heart surgery. Each patient should be individually assessed for surgical risk. Although rare, there are certain risks associated with this surgery, both during and after the procedure.

These risks include the potential for the patient to lose their life, heart failure, heart rhythm disorders, various organ failures, neurological issues such as stroke, and complications like infection. Additionally, in patients who undergo mitral valve repair, there is a possibility that the repair may fail in the ensuing months or years, necessitating another surgery related to the mitral valve.

The duration of the procedure varies depending on the specific interventions needed and the patient’s condition. Generally, these surgeries take around 3 hours on average.