Mitral valve repair is a highly specialized cardiac surgery procedure that fixes a damaged or malfunctioning mitral valve—the gatekeeper between your heart’s left atrium (upper chamber) and left ventricle (main pumping chamber).
Its crucial job is to open fully to allow oxygen-rich blood to flow from the lungs into the pumping chamber, and then close tightly to prevent that blood from leaking backward.
What Conditions Does It Treat?
The procedure corrects several common problems:
Mitral Valve Regurgitation (Leaky Valve): The most common reason for repair. The valve doesn’t close tightly, allowing blood to flow backward (regurgitate), forcing the heart to work harder.
Mitral Valve Prolapse (Floppy Valve): A portion of the valve bulges (prolapses) back into the atrium, often leading to regurgitation.
Mitral Stenosis (Stiff Valve): The valve leaflets become thick or fused, narrowing the opening and restricting blood flow.
How is the Valve Repaired?
Instead of replacing the valve, surgeons meticulously reconstruct the patient’s own valve using several advanced techniques, often in combination:
Resection: Precisely trimming and reshaping floppy or redundant valve leaflets.
Annuloplasty: Implanting a supportive ring (annuloplasty ring) around the valve’s base to tighten and reinforce its structure. This is a cornerstone of most repair operations.
Chordal Repair: Repairing or replacing the tiny, tough cords (chordae tendineae) that anchor the valve leaflets to the heart muscle. If these break or stretch, they can cause prolapse and leakage.
Patches: Using a patch of tissue (often from the pericardium, the heart’s own lining) to repair holes or sections of damaged leaflet.
Why is Repair Preferred Over Replacement?
Whenever possible, surgeons strongly prefer repair because it offers significant long-term advantages:
Preserves Natural Heart Function: The patient keeps their own biological valve, which typically functions more efficiently than a mechanical one.
Eliminates Need for Lifelong Blood Thinners: Unlike mechanical valve replacements, a repaired native valve usually doesn’t require the patient to take blood-thinning medication (anticoagulants) for life.
Lower Risk of Infection: Repaired valves have a lower long-term risk of infection (endocarditis) compared to artificial valves.
Improved Long-Term Survival and Durability: Studies show repair leads to better survival rates and longer-lasting results than replacement for degenerative valve disease.
The Outcome: A New Lease on Life
A successful mitral valve repair can dramatically improve a patient’s heart function, alleviate debilitating symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue, prevent further heart damage, and significantly enhance their overall quality of life and longevity.
Dr. Elham Looti Sharokh is a highly accomplished cardiologist and associate professor, recognized for her exceptional expertise in interventional cardiology and commitment to advancing […]
