When your heart’s mitral valve is damaged, there are two basic options to consider. You can have the valve replaced or repaired.
If the mitral valve is replaced, it is done with either a mechanical valve or a valve from animal tissue. Mechanical valves are very durable and will last most of the life of a patient. However, one of the problems with a replacement is that a patient has to take medication that prevents coagulation for the rest of their lives. If a mechanical valve is not used, one made from animal tissue can be used. Animal tissue valves are more natural, but they are not as durable. They usually wear out after 10 to 15 years.
When the mitral valve is repaired, the main structure of the mitral valve is salvaged, and the valve can be reconstructed. With minimally invasive mitral valve repair, there are many benefits over regular open heart surgery. With this procedure, the surgeons do not have to split apart the breast bone. The pain associated with surgery is less. Hospital stay is shorter and recovery is much quicker. There is less risk of hemorrhaging or other post-surgical complications. The incision is much smaller than with regular open heart surgery. It isn’t even noticeable on many women, because the incision is right below the breast.
The benefits of having minimally invasive mitral valve repair on its effectiveness to your heart and life are also numerous. Individuals who undergo this procedure do not have to be on blood thinning medications the rest of their lives. There are fewer valve related complications that generally come when there is a valve replacement. The risk of getting endocarditis, an infection of the heart tissue, is lower. The heart functions better then with a replacement. And, most importantly, there is a higher survival rate.