Mitral Valve Repair or Replacement Surgery

The symptoms associated with mitral valve disease are usually related to the inability of the valve to function properly either because it does not open completely (stenosis) or because it does not close properly (regurgitation). This causes blood to back up in the lungs. Mitral valve regurgitation is the leakage of blood back into the heart. Mitral valve stenosis is a narrowing of the mitral valve restricting blood flow to the left ventricle, causing blood to back up into the lungs.

Mitral Valve Disease Symptoms

The most common symptoms associated with mitral valve disease are that of shortness of breath, a feeling of fatigue and tiredness and a build-up of fluid in the legs and fe

Mitral Valve Disease Treatment

Dr. Bell-Thomson’s preference is to repair the mitral valve whenever possible. However, there are circumstances in which the valve has been so destroyed by the disease process that a repair is not possible and a replacement is necessary. The tissue prosthesis that Dr. Bell-Thomson has used for valve replacement for many years is a pericardial tissue valve manufactured by Edwards Life sciences. The mechanical prosthesis Dr. Bell-Thomson has used for replacement, for over 25 years, is the St. Jude Medical heart valve.