Treatment of Mitral Valve Conditions

Most of the time, there are few or no symptoms for mitral valve conditions and treatment is not needed. But, if you have severe mitral valve prolapse, you may need to stay in the hospital. Surgery to repair or replace the valve may be needed if you have severe mitral regurgitation or your symptoms get worse. Mitral regurgitation is a condition in which your heart's mitral valve does not close tightly, allowing blood to flow backward in your heart.

Commonly Prescribed Medications

Anti-arrhythmics drugs to help control irregular heart beats.
Vasodilators dilate (widen) blood vessels, which makes it easier for the heart to work.
Digitalis is used to strengthen the heartbeat.
Diuretics (water pills) help remove excess fluid in the lungs.
Propranolol is given for palpitations or chest pain.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners) help prevent blood clots in people who also have an irregular heartbeat.¹

Surgery

Surgery should be considered in virtually all patients with a leak that is graded as a 4 (severe) and in some patients with a leak that is graded as a 3 (moderately severe). When a patient with mitral valve regurgitation develops symptoms, a decrease in heart function, or an increase in heart size, surgery is recommended. Surgery should also be considered when a patient develops atrial fibrillation - an irregular heartbeat. Surgery is also recommended in many patients who don't have any symptoms but have a severe leak; in these patients, surgery improves long-term survival.² During surgery, a sternotomy is typically required. This is when surgeons access the heart by making an 8- to 10-inch incision down the chest, cut through the breastbone (the sternum) and open the ribs.

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Recently, minimally invasive approaches to Mitral Valve Repair are replacing sternotomy as the surgical method of choice. Of the minimally invasive approaches, robotic surgery ( da Vinci Surgery) has many practical advantages for both the patient and the surgeon: precision, fewer complications, reduced blood loss and shorter hospital stays. According to the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic, there is a 95% chance that a leaky mitral valve can be repaired using minimally invasive techniques. ³

1. "Treatment Options for Mitral Valve Disease," Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.org. URL: http://www.mayoclinic.org/mitral-valve-disease/treatment.html
2. "Mitral Valve Repair: Answers to our most common questions," Cleveland Clinic Heart & Vascular Institute, www.clevelandclinic.org. URL: http://www.clevelandclinic.org/heartcenter/pub/guide/disease/valve/mvrepairfaq.htm
3. Ibid.

While clinical studies support the effectiveness of the da Vinci Surgical System when used in minimally invasive surgery, individual results may vary. There are no guarantees of outcome. All surgeries involve the risk of major complications. Before you decide on surgery, discuss treatment options with your doctor. Understanding the risks of each treatment can help you make the best decision for your individual situation. Surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System may not be appropriate for every individual; it may not be applicable to your condition. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits. Only your doctor can determine whether da Vinci Surgery is appropriate for your situation. The clinical information and opinions, including any inaccuracies expressed in this material by patients or doctor about da Vinci Surgery are not necessarily those of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. and should not be considered as substitute for medical advice provided by your doctor. All people depicted unless otherwise noted are models. © 2012 Intuitive Surgical. All rights reserved. Intuitive, Intuitive Surgical, da Vinci, da Vinci S, da Vinci Si, Single-Site, InSite, TilePro and EndoWrist are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intuitive Surgical. All other product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.