Mitral valve stenosis: Repair or replace the valve?
If you have mitral valve stenosis and have decided you need surgery for your mitral valve, you have a choice of repairing it or replacing it. When making this decision, you and your doctor need to consider:
- The condition of the valve and what is causing the stenosis. The more severe the stenosis, the more likely replacement will be necessary.
- The surgeon's skill and experience in performing the procedures. Both valve replacements and balloon valvotomies are highly technical and should be performed by an experienced surgeon.
- Whether you have a blood clot in your left atrium.
- How urgently you need treatment.
- Whether your heart rhythm is regular or irregular.
Both balloon valvotomy and mitral commissurotomy repair your mitral valve, while a valve replacement removes it and replaces it with an artificial valve.
Generally, mitral valve repair is preferred if your:
- Valve is suitable for it.
- Surgeon has the appropriate level of experience and surgical skill.
The advantages of mitral valve repair are that it:
- Preserves your natural valve.
- Leads to fewer complications and better postoperative results (generally lower risk of mortality) than mitral valve replacement.
The disadvantages of mitral valve repair are that:
- Not all valve problems can be repaired.
- The repair may not last and then you may need valve replacement surgery.
| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: March 18, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology | |
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