healingvalves

The mitral valve is one among the four major valves of your heart. It allows blood to flow freely from left sided small heart chamber to left large chamber and out into the rest of your body.

This valve can cause stress to your heart if it isn’t functioning properly. This also makes it hard for blood to circulate properly.

Sometimes problems with the mitral valve can either be treated with medicine or surgically repaired. These procedures are usually less invasive.

In severe cases, however, the valve may need to be completely replaced. This is known as mitral valve replacement surgery.

What are the reasons I might need to replace my mitral valve?

Mitral valve disease is a condition that affects your mitral valve. Some people don’t feel any symptoms of mitral valve disease, and it can go unnoticed for a long time. These symptoms include lightheadedness, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeats.

There are two types:

Mitral valve stenosis

This condition means that your mitral valve won’t fully open and it’s narrowed . This causes less blood to flow through your heart chambers.

What are the dangers of this procedure? Balloon Mitral Valvotomy?

This is when your mitral valve leaks blood. This is when some of the blood through your heart flows backwards instead of forwards.

Mitral valve disease can be caused by many factors. Sometimes, the condition can be caused by normal aging or the mitral valve losing its function. Mitral valve disease can also be caused by certain health conditions, such as:

  • heart failure
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Rheumatic fever
  • An infection of your heart valves
  • Prolapse of mitral valve

How can I prepare for a mitral replacement ?

Your medical team will assist you in preparing for mitral valve replacement surgery. The first step is to talk with your doctor about the type of valve that you will be getting. Your doctor and you can jointly decide which type of valve will be the best for your needs. Two options are available for replacing your mitral valve.

Biological valves can be made from heart tissue of cows, humans, and pigs. They are not as durable as mechanical valves.

Human-made mechanical valve is the other option. These valves are durable but more susceptible to thrombosis (clots forming around the valve). If you have a mechanical valve, you will need to continue taking blood thinners throughout your life.

A few tests may be required before you have your surgery. These tests will allow your doctor to assess your health. These tests could include:

  • X-rays
  • lab tests
  • Echocardiogram (transthoracic, transesophageal).
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG).
  • coronary angiogram

 

You’ll be given specific instructions in the days leading up to your surgery. These instructions will be given by your doctor before you have surgery. However, the following are general pre-surgery instructions:

  • A bag of essential items is a must-have.
  • Talk to your doctor about stopping blood-thinning medication before surgery. Also, ask him if you should have an injection rather than oral medications.
  • The night before surgery, don’t eat or drink after midnight.
  • Before you go for surgery, remove all nail polish, jewellery and contact lenses.

What procedure is used to replace the mitral valve?

Open heart surgery is sometimes used to replace the mitral valve. This involves a deep cut of your breastbone. There are other options that require minimally invasive procedures.

Open heart surgery

A mitral valve replacement involves several steps. Anesthesia will be administered to you first. This will help you fall asleep and prevent any pain. Your surgical team will:

  • Make an incision at the middle of your chest.
  • To access your heart, one has to separate your breastbone
  • Attach a heart-lung device to your chest that will serve as a mechanical heart pump and lungs during the operation
  • Remove your current mitral valve
  • Place your new mitral valve carefully
  • Remove the heart-lung machine
  • Rewire your breastbone
  • Stitch your skin back together

 

The entire procedure to replace the mitral valve will take few hours. Once your surgery is completed, you will be transferred to a recovery area. After you are awake from anesthesia, nurses and other medical staff will be watching you.