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® System when used in minimally invasive surgery, individual results may vary. Surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.