Mitral Valve Repair: Open Surgery vs. Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Procedure

Mitral Valve Repair: Open Surgery vs. Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Procedure

Mitral valve repair surgery is a treatment procedure that helps patients suffering from mitral valve disease to lead a healthy, long life. Mitral valve disease is a problem when the valve located between the left atrium and left ventricle in the left heart chamber gets leaky or narrow causing various complications.

Mitral valve disease includes Mitral Valve Regurgitation and Mitral Valve Stenosis.

In patients suffering from mitral valve regurgitation, the flaps or leaflets of the valve fail to close tightly, allowing the blood to leak backward.

In mitral valve stenosis, the flaps get thickened or stiffened and fused, narrowing the valve opening and restricting the blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle.

The treatment for mitral valve disease depends on the severity of the condition and if the symptoms, like severe fatigue, irregular heartbeat, irregular heart sound, difficulty in breathing, and blood clots, are worsening faster. Your doctor might recommend surgical intervention to either repair or replace the mitral valve to restore heart health and quality of life.

What Is A Mitral Valve?

The mitral valve is one of the four valves in the heart, and the primary function of these flaps or leaflets is to ensure blood flow in the right direction. When these valves fail to open or close properly, the blood flow to the body from the heart gets reduced. While in mitral valve regurgitation, blood flows backward, the heart tends to work hard to force blood via the smaller valve opening in case of mitral valve stenosis.

Mitral valve disease is caused due to many reasons, including congenital factors, severe infection, other cardiac conditions, and auto-immune disorders like lupus. Older people with a history of heart diseases, congenital heart defects, and patients who underwent previous radiation therapy to the chest are prone to mitral valve disease.

If not repaired or replaced on time, mitral valve disease can lead to congestive heart failure and stroke.

How Is Mitral Valve Repair Done?

Mitral valve repair is done either as an open-heart procedure or as a minimally invasive heart surgery. Your doctor would recommend the type of procedure depending on the severity of the condition. However, minimally-invasive mitral valve repair is a boon to patients as it ensures fewer scars, fewer hospital stays, and faster recovery than open heart procedures.

During the surgery, the surgeon may close the holes in the heart valve, reconnect the valve flaps and remove excess tissue to make the flaps close tightly, repair the structure by replacing the cords for support or separate the fused flaps. The surgical techniques used for mitral valve repair include annuloplasty, valvuloplasty, and mitral valve clip.

Open Mitral Valve Repair:

Open mitral valve repair is done under general anesthesia. The patient’s heart is connected to a cardiopulmonary bypass machine, which takes over the heart and lungs’ functioning during the procedure. An incision is made in the chest, and the length of it depends on the technique – full sternotomy or partial sternotomy.

The surgeon repairs the valve using one or more surgical techniques, including annuloplasty, triangular or quadrangular resection, or chordal repair. The surgeon would then check for the functioning of the flaps, and the patient would be weaned off the bypass machine allowing the heart and lungs to function normally.

The patient may have to spend 2 to 3 days in the ICU following and may have to spend up to ten days in the hospital till complete recovery. Normal duties can be resumed within 4 to 8 weeks.

Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair:

Minimally invasive mitral valve repair is performed under general anesthesia. The patient’s heart is connected to a cardiopulmonary bypass machine, which takes over the heart and lung’s functioning during the procedure.

The surgeon makes 2 to 3 incisions measuring up to 4 to 6 centimeters along the side of the ribs. A thin catheter with a camera is inserted through the incision to view and access the mitral valve. Tiny, advanced surgical tools repair the mitral valves, and the incision is closed with stitches.

The surgery takes up to 2 to 4 hours, depending on the mitral valve disease.

What Are The Advantages of Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair?

Minimally invasive mitral valve repair treats all problems associated with the mitral valve.

The patient would experience much lesser pain when compared to open heart surgery.

This procedure ensures faster recovery of the patient

Minimal scarring that heals at a more rapid pace

The patient would spend much lesser time in the hospital and could get discharged sooner.

What Is The Recovery Time After Undergoing Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair?

The patient may need a couple weeks to recover fully and feel active again. Refrain from lifting heavy weights; the patient might need a doctor’s consultation to evaluate the progress.

Many patients could return to regular duties and work within a few weeks.

However, the time of recovery varies from individual patient to patient.

Life After Mitral Valve Repair:

A successful mitral valve repair restores quality of life. The patient may require blood thinners to prevent blood clotting for the rest of their life. Keep up with your doctor’s appointment to check if the newly repaired or replaced valve is functioning correctly.

Practice a healthy lifestyle, eat nutritious food, and quit smoking.