Your heart is a complex organ that pumps blood throughout your body as the result of its electrical system. A group of cells called the sinoatrial node produces electrical impulses that cause the four chambers of your heart (i.e. two atria and two ventricles) to contract. The contractions occur in a uniform manner and push blood from the chambers.

As blood leaves each chamber, it flows past a valve; there are four of them in your heart. The mitral valve (MV) separates your left atrium (upper chamber) and left ventricle (lower chamber). Illnesses, medical events, and congenital defects can cause disorders with the MV. Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) can be performed to fix these disorders. This article will provide an overview of the approach and describe some of its advantages over traditional thoracotomy.

Types Of Mitral Valve Diseases

There are two main problems that can develop with the two leaflets of your mitral valve: stenosis and regurgitation. The former is far less common than the latter.

A stenotic MV is one that is narrower than normal. Because the opening is restricted, less blood can flow from the left atrium into the left ventricle. This can cause pooling and clotting within the upper chamber, and make less oxygenated blood available for circulation. This disease is usually a side effect of untreated rheumatic fever; the body’s immune system attacks the valve and causes the valve’s flaps to thicken and stiffen.

A regurgitant MV is one in which the leaflets flop back into the atrium. This is called prolapse. The condition allows blood to flow backward from the ventricle into the atrium when the lower chamber contracts. As a result, pressure rises within the upper chamber and causes it to enlarge.

Regurgitation can be caused by a previous heart attack or an infection that was left untreated. One of the side effects of this disease is atrial fibrillation; your heart’s electrical system becomes disrupted.

Different Surgical Approaches

There are several different methods used for minimally invasive mitral valve repair surgery. The approach depends on the disorder. For example, a stenotic MV can be resolved with a procedure called balloon valvuloplasty. This method uses a catheter with a balloon affixed to the tip to forcibly widen the narrowed valvular opening.

A regurgitant valve can be repaired with different methods, depending on which leaflet is diseased. A triangular resection is done if the posterior leaflet if flopping. On the other hand, if the anterior leaflet is affected, the surgeon may perform a chordal transfer. This is done to create support for the diseased flap.

Traditional thoracotomy requires a long (i.e. six to eight inches) incision into the chest after which the breastbone is separated. This process is unnecessary with minimally invasive techniques. Depending on the surgical equipment available and the surgeon’s expertise, minimally invasive mitral valve repair can normally be accomplished with a few small incisions. In some cases, surgeons can complete a procedure with little more than a few keyhole entries.

Advantages Of Minimally Invasive Techniques

Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery offers several benefits over conventional thoracotomy. First, procedures can be performed in less time with a lower likelihood of complications (i.e. stroke, endocarditis, etc.). Second, it is less traumatic on the heart muscle and thus, can better preserve its normal function. Third, the patient’s recovery time is far shorter with a minimally invasive approach than would otherwise be the case.

Another major advantage of MIMVS is that the mortality rate is lower than with traditional open heart surgery. Moreover, if the mitral valve is repaired rather than replaced, anticoagulant therapy is usually unnecessary.

All of the above benefits dovetail to provide the patient with an overall improvement in their quality of life. Less trauma during surgery, fewer complications, a shorter recovery period, and the absence of blood thinners, provide the patient with a more enjoyable postoperative lifestyle. In the end, that is the ultimate purpose of minimally invasive mitral valve repair.

Author Bio: Find the right doctor for mitral valve disease. Early diagnosis can lead to successful results. Get information about cardiac surgery

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: mitral valve, mitral valve heart surgery, mitral valve surgery