Mitral Valve Surgery

Services

Understanding
Mitral Valve Surgery

Minimally Invasive & Open Heart

The mitral valve is crucial for maintaining proper blood flow between the left atrium and ventricle of the heart. When this valve becomes diseased — leading to conditions like mitral valve regurgitation or mitral valve stenosis — surgical intervention may be necessary to repair or replace the valve.

Approaches

Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery

  • A 4-6 cm incision between the 2nd and 3rd ribs without touching the chest bone.
  • Favoured by patients for its minimal invasiveness.
  • Performed through a tiny incision (3-5 cm) between the ribs, without cutting or mobilising any bone.
  • Utilises an endoscopic camera for enhanced precision.

Open Heart Surgery

  • Involves a vertical incision along the chest to open the chest bone.
  • Provides the surgeon with a direct and unobstructed view of the heart and mitral valve.
  • Allows for comprehensive treatment of complex heart conditions that may not be suitable for minimally invasive techniques.

CONDITIONS WE TREAT

(Adj) Professor Theo Kofidis assesses and treats mitral valve disease, including mitral regurgitation (a leaking mitral valve), mitral valve prolapse, and mitral stenosis (a narrowed valve). Depending on the cause and severity, treatment may involve mitral valve repair, which preserves your own valve, or mitral valve replacement with a mechanical or tissue valve. In selected patients, where clinically appropriate, mitral valve surgery may be performed through minimally invasive access using smaller incisions between the ribs, rather than a full sternotomy. Mitral valve disease may also be treated alongside other heart conditions, such as tricuspid valve disease, aortic valve disease, coronary artery disease, or atrial fibrillation.

Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery

  • Mitral Valve Regurgitation
  • Mitral Valve Stenosis

Open Heart Surgery

  • Mitral Valve Regurgitation
  • Mitral Valve Stenosis
  • Complex Mitral Valve Disease with Multiple Co-Existing Diseases

What to expect

Minimally Invasive & Open Heart

  • Thorough assessment including medical history, physical examination, and advanced imaging (e.g., echocardiogram, CT scan).
  • Consultation with (Adj) Professor Theo Kofidis to explore minimally invasive & open heart options, their potential benefits & risks, and if patient qualifies for minimally invasive surgery.

Minimally Invasive

  • General anaesthesia is administered.
  • Precise repair or replacement of the mitral valve through small incisions, minimising tissue trauma.

Open Heart

  • General anaesthesia is administered.
  • Mitral valve repair or replacement performed through open-heart surgery, which involves opening the chest cavity.

Minimally Invasive

  • Usually 1 day in ICU & 3-4 days in general ward.
  • Faster mobilisation and return to daily activities.
  • Follow-up appointments to monitor healing progress and overall cardiac health.

Open Heart

  • Usually 2 days in ICU & 5-7 days in general ward.
  • Slower mobilisation while in recovery.
  • Follow-up appointments to monitor healing progress and overall cardiac health.

Benefits

Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery

Less pain & quicker recovery period.
Results in smaller scars that are less visible.
Regain strength and mobility faster, allowing you to resume normal activities sooner.
Smaller incisions reduce the risk of post-surgical infections, leading to safer recovery.
Minimises blood loss, decreasing the need for transfusions.
Reduced physical trauma to the body facilitates quicker healing and less post-operative pain.

Lowers the likelihood of irregular heartbeats, enhancing overall cardiac stability post-surgery.

Preserving chest structure promotes improved lung function and breathing capacity shortly after surgery.

Smaller incisions result in less visible scarring, maintaining a more natural appearance.

Open Heart Surgery

In cases where the heart anatomy is complex or the valves are severely diseased, open heart surgery may offer a more reliable option for complete valve repair or replacement.