Mitral valve replacement surgery
Mitral valve replacement surgery is typically an open-heart procedure. The damaged heart valve is removed and replaced with a new valve. There are two types of replacement valve: a mechanical heart valve made from plastic or metal or a bioprosthetic heart valve made from animal tissue.
Why is mitral valve replacement surgery done?
Mitral valve regurgitation
For acute mitral valve regurgitation, surgery is done immediately to replace or repair the valve.
For chronic regurgitation, surgery might be recommended if:
- You have symptoms.
- Regurgitation is severe.
- Your heart has pumping problems (low ejection fraction).
- Your left ventricle is larger than normal.
The decision to have surgery also depends on what caused mitral regurgitation. It depends on whether it is caused by:
- A problem with the anatomy of the valve (primary regurgitation).
- Another heart problem (secondary regurgitation).
Mitral valve stenosis
Surgery for mitral valve stenosis might be recommended if:
- Symptoms are present.
- Stenosis is severe.
- Balloon valvuloplasty is not an option.
After mitral valve replacement surgery: When to call
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
- You passed out (lost consciousness).
- You have severe trouble breathing.
- You have severe pain in your chest.
- You have sudden chest pain and shortness of breath, or you cough up blood.
- You have symptoms of a stroke. These may include:
- Sudden numbness, tingling, weakness, or loss of movement in your face, arm, or leg, especially on only one side of your body.
- Sudden vision changes.
- Sudden trouble speaking.
- Sudden confusion or trouble understanding simple statements.
- Sudden problems with walking or balance.
- A sudden, severe headache that is different from past headaches.
- You have symptoms of a heart attack. These may include:
- Chest pain or pressure, or a strange feeling in the chest.
- Sweating.
- Shortness of breath.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Pain, pressure, or a strange feeling in the back, neck, jaw, or upper belly or in one or both shoulders or arms.
- Lightheadedness or sudden weakness.
- A fast or irregular heartbeat.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
- You have pain that does not get better after you take pain medicine.
- You have loose stitches, or your incision comes open.
- You are bleeding a lot from the incision.
- You have signs of infection, such as:
- Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.
- Red streaks leading from the incision.
- Pus draining from the incision.
- A fever.
- Your heartbeat feels very fast, skips beats, or flutters.
- You have signs of a blood clot, such as:
- Pain in your calf, back of the knee, thigh, or groin.
- Redness and swelling in your leg or groin.
- You have symptoms of heart failure, such as:
- Swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet.
- Sudden weight gain, such as more than 2 to 3 pounds in a day or 5 pounds in a week. (Your doctor may suggest a different range of weight gain.)
- You are sick to your stomach or cannot keep fluids down.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
- You do not get better as expected.
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