The mitral valve of the heart is located on the left side of the heart between the atrium and ventricle chambers. When the valve opens it allows blood to pass from the atrium through to the ventricle. If the mitral valve is not working properly, minimally invasive mitral valve repair should be considered.
There are two basic types of damages to the mitral valve. Stenosis is where the flow of blood from the left atrium into the left ventricle is restricted. The restriction is due to a narrowed passageway. For instance, the mitral valve can become thicker than normal, making the passageway narrower. This can be caused by, but is not limited to, complications from rheumatic fever.
The other problem with a damaged mitral valve is what is called regurgitation. This is where the valve does not shut properly, allowing blood to flow back into the atrium from the ventricle. There are many causes for mitral valve regurgitation, including heart attack, birth defects, endocarditis, rheumatic fever, and untreated high blood pressure.
With the development of the heart lung machine in the 1950s, mitral valve replacement began in the 1960s. The replacement valves were usually mechanical. Common problems associated with a mechanical valve included risk of infection around the valve and the need for the patient to be on blood thinners for the rest of his or her life. But until recently, that was the only option available.
Advances in technology have made minimally invasive mitral valve repair is an option today. The repair reconstructs the patients’ own mitral valve, rather than replacing it. The procedure is done through a small incision in the chest between ribs. Equipment with scopes allows the surgeons to view the heart and conduct the surgery without opening the rib cage. Both recovery time and complications are less when the surgery is minimally invasive.