Mitral Valve Repair

The cardiovascular specialists affiliated with Memorial Hermann Health System treat a full range of heart and vascular conditions. We are dedicated to delivering the best possible outcomes by using a patient-centered, comprehensive approach.

If you have heart-valve disease affecting the mitral valve, a valve repair may be an appropriate treatment option. Today, specialists use both minimally invasive techniques as well as traditional open-heart surgery to repair problems with the mitral valve.

In addition to traditional surgical procedures, Memorial Hermann offers minimally invasive mitral valve repair with MitraClip®. We are the only hospital in Houston, and one of three in Texas, chosen to participate in the nationwide Endovascular Edge-to-Edge Repair study, or EVEREST II, that investigates the minimally invasive MitraClip® Cardiovascular Valve Repair System for the treatment of mitral valve regurgitation.

What Is Mitral Valve Repair?

The mitral valve is located between the two left chambers of the heart: the left atrium and the left ventricle. Its job is to keep blood moving in the correct direction. When the valve does not open or close properly, the heart may become damaged, and you may need to have the mitral valve repaired.

Mitral valve repair can be performed as a minimally invasive surgical procedure, or as an open-heart surgical procedure. Mitral valve repair is used to treat two different problems:

Regurgitation: The mitral valve does not close completely. When this happens, blood will flow backward (instead of forward) through the mitral valve.

Stenosis: The mitral valve does not open properly or becomes too narrow. When this happens, blood cannot flow out of the heart chambers at the normal rate, and the heart has to work harder to pump blood.

Many patients with mitral valve disease do not have any symptoms. For patients with symptoms, repair surgery can improve problems like shortness of breath, fatigue and swelling of the feet and ankles.

There are many advantages to repairing the mitral valve, rather than replacing it. After a repair procedure, patients usually experience:

• Better heart function
• Improved long-term survival rates
• Lower risk of infection
• Lower risk of stroke
• No need to take blood thinners
• Better quality of life

Your experience will vary, based on which type of procedure you have. If you have open-heart surgery, you will most likely be placed on a machine that will breathe and circulate blood for you. While this machine is functioning, your heart will not beat or work on its own.

While you are under general anesthesia, your doctor may perform any of these repair functions:

• Close any holes in the mitral valve
• Remove any excess tissue so the valve can close completely
• Reconnect valve leaflets that have separated
• Separate valve leaflets that have fused together
• Repair chords that control the valve leaflets
• Reinforce the ring around the valve (annuloplasty)