Mitral Valve Replacement / Repair
Mitral Valve Replacement (MVR) and Mitral Valve Repair (MVr) are surgical procedures used to treat problems with the mitral valve, one of the four valves in the heart that controls blood flow between the left atrium and the left ventricle. These procedures are typically performed when the mitral valve does not function properly, leading to conditions such as mitral valve stenosis (narrowing) or mitral valve regurgitation (leakage).
Mitral Valve Replacement (MVR)
In mitral valve replacement, the faulty valve is entirely removed and replaced with an artificial valve.
The new valve can be:
- Mechanical Valve: Made from durable materials such as metal or plastic. These valves last a long time but require the patient to take blood-thinning medication (anticoagulants) for life to prevent blood clots.
- Biological Valve: Made from animal tissue (usually from a pig or cow) or from a donated human valve. Biological valves may wear out over time and need to be replaced, but they usually do not require lifelong anticoagulants.
When is Mitral Valve Replacement necessary?
- When the valve is too damaged to be repaired.
- Severe mitral stenosis (narrowing of the valve) that restricts blood flow.
- Severe mitral regurgitation (leakage of the valve) that causes significant heart failure or symptoms.
Mitral Valve Repair (MVr)
Mitral valve repair aims to preserve the patient’s native valve and restore its normal function by correcting the structural issues. Surgeons typically reshape or reconstruct parts of the valve to fix problems.
Techniques include:
- Annuloplasty: A ring is placed around the base (annulus) of the mitral valve to tighten or reinforce it and restore its shape.
- Leaflet repair: The leaflets (the flaps that open and close the valve) may be reshaped, shortened, or reinforced if they are too floppy or thickened.
- Chordal repair: The chordae tendineae (the strings that support the valve leaflets) may be repaired or replaced if they are too stretched or torn.
When is Mitral Valve Repair preferred?
- Mitral regurgitation due to prolapse or flail leaflets, where the valve can be restored to function normally.
- To preserve the native valve, which is generally more durable than replacement valves.
- When the repair can be done to avoid the need for lifelong anticoagulants (as is required with mechanical valves).
