When a heart valve doesn't work right, you are likely to suffer from heart valve disease. This means, the valve may not open all the way or may have problems closing. A healthy valve should open to let blood through and closes to stop blood from flowing backward. When problems occur either in the opening or closing of the
mitral valve, the heart will have to work double to pump the same amount of blood. The mitral valve is the "inflow valve" for the main pumping chamber of the heart, the left ventricle.
In the past decades, surgeons treat this through
mitral valve replacement. They perform a
mitral valve surgery and remove the diseased valve and replace it by implanting an artificial valve. Although there is a high risk of complications, patients had no other choice. Nowadays, surgeons have developed a technique in treating this disease. Instead of replacing the valve, they repair it.
Mitral valve repair has many advantages. Compared to valve replacement, valve repair provides better long-term survival, lower risk of stroke and infection, better preservation of heart function and there will be no need for blood thinners.
In the past decades, surgeons treat this through mitral valve replacement. They perform a mitral valve surgery and remove the diseased valve and replace it by implanting an artificial valve. Although there is a high risk of complications, patients had no other choice. Nowadays, surgeons have developed a technique in treating this disease. Instead of replacing the valve, they repair it.
Mitral valve repair has many advantages. Compared to valve replacement, valve repair provides better long-term survival, lower risk of stroke and infection, better preservation of heart function and there will be no need for blood thinners.