Mitral Valve Repair or Replacement
Surgical Expertise Meets Advanced Technology
At Providence Heart Institute of Spokane, we’re one of the few heart programs in the nation to offer robotic mitral valve surgery. By using less invasive techniques and smaller incisions, our cardiothoracic surgeons can perform more precise mitral valve repairs and replacements compared to traditional open-heart surgery – so recovery is potentially easier for you.
Mitral Valve Repair and Replacement Surgeries
Mitral valve repair and replacement are heart surgeries that help treat mitral valve disease. The mitral valve is located between the upper and lower chambers on the left side of your heart; it opens and closes to let blood flow at the appropriate times and prevents blood from being pumped back into the lungs.
When the mitral valve doesn’t close properly or is too narrow, it can lead to heart and lung problems. Sometimes, the best treatment is heart surgery to either repair or replace the valve.
- During mitral valve repair, surgeons fix the faulty valve by patching holes, reconnecting flaps or replacing tissue – whatever helps improve the valve’s functions.
- Mitral valve replacement involves the surgeon removing the mitral valve and inserting a new valve.
People from all over the region travel to us for this procedure because we offer robotic-assisted valve surgeries whenever possible. Through a few tiny incisions, our surgeons can access your valve with specialized tools that provide greater precision and help lead to faster recovery times.
What to Expect
With any heart procedure, it helps to know what you can expect in advance. We’re here to guide you before, during and after your procedure – answering any questions, helping you prepare for surgery and recovery, explaining potential risks and offering whatever support you need along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your doctor will confirm if you’re a candidate for heart surgery based on your current condition and other health factors. You may need mitral valve repair or replacement if you have severe mitral valve disease, including:
- Mitral valve prolapse – When your mitral valve stretches too much so that blood leaks backward, causing less flow through the heart and body
- Mitral valve regurgitation – When your mitral valve doesn’t close all the way and causes blood to leak
- Mitral valve stenosis – When your mitral valve narrows at the opening, preventing enough blood from moving through the chambers of the heart
Whether you need a mitral valve repair or replacement depends on how severe your condition is and if it’s getting worse. We recommend mitral valve repair if possible, since you keep your own heart valve and the procedure has better long-term outcomes.
You may need a mitral valve replacement if your valve is too damaged to repair. Your care team will look at your heart in detail using an echocardiogram. They’ll also review your health history and any current symptoms – like fatigue, abnormal heartbeats and shortness of breath – to see which treatment is best for you.
On the morning of your surgery, you’ll come to the hospital for heart tests and blood tests, so we can confirm it’s safe to do the procedure. You’ll also receive an IV sedative to help you relax.
Then, you’ll head to the operating room, where you’ll get an IV with general anesthesia to put you to sleep during the surgery. You’ll also have a breathing tube in your mouth that’s attached to a ventilator, which helps you breathe during and shortly after surgery.
You’ll be in surgery for 3 to 6 hours, depending on the specific procedure. After surgery, you’ll go to the ICU for close monitoring.
Open-heart surgeries typically require blood transfusion, but with minimally invasive surgery, most patients don’t need a transfusion because there’s less blood loss. Whenever possible, we perform bloodless surgery, designed to prevent the loss of blood and eliminate the need for blood transfusions.
As you recover from heart surgery, call your doctor if you have any concerns. Contact your care team right away, if any of the following occur
- Chills
- Continuous nausea or vomiting
- Fast or irregular heart rate
- Fever that’s 100.4ºF or higher
- Numbness in the arms and legs
- Pain, redness, swelling or bleeding from your incision
- Swelling, especially in the legs
Call 911 if you have trouble breathing or think you’re having a heart attack or stroke.
Lifestyle changes before and after surgery are important for improving heart health. Our cardiac rehab programs can help you modify your habits for better long-term recovery. Some examples include:
- Eating a heart-healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables and whole grains
- Exercising regularly
- Finding ways to manage stress
- Getting quality sleep
- Quitting smoking
After a mitral valve repair or replacement, you’ll attend several follow-up appointments, plus you’ll receive an annual echocardiogram, so your doctor can check how your valve is functioning. Most mitral valve repairs last 10 years or longer and don’t require another surgery.
If you need a future health procedure, you may need to take antibiotics beforehand to prevent infection. People who receive a mitral valve replacement with a mechanical valve must take blood thinners for life to prevent blood clots.