St Vincents Private Hospitals

Mitral valve replacement surgery is a type of medical procedure to replace a damaged mitral valve. The mitral valve is one of your heart’s four valves and it sits between the top and bottom heart chambers on the left side of the heart. It is responsible for helping oxygen-rich blood flow forwards through the body, and for preventing any blood from leaking backwards. If the mitral valve is damaged or diseased and not working properly, this will strain the left side of the heart which over time may lead to heart and lung damage. Mitral valve replacement surgery may be recommended by your doctor if your mitral valve is no longer functioning efficiently and is considered beyond repair. 

What does it do?

Mitral valve replacement surgery restores function to your heart by enabling the blood to flow through the body once more. In a healthy heart, the mitral valve operates just like a gate door that opens and closes. If the mitral valve becomes narrowed (stenosis) or it stops closing properly, blood can be prevented from flowing freely, or it can flow it the wrong direction (regurgitation). This puts additional pressure on the heart, and in severe cases may lead to heart failure.

How does it work?

Mitral valve replacement surgery can be performed as open surgery or as a minimally invasive procedure.  The faulty mitral valve is removed and replaced either with a mechanical valve made from metal or carbon, or a biological valve made from cow or pig tissue. Each type of valve has different benefits, and your doctor will talk to you about the best approach for your specific circumstances. Mitral valve replacement surgery is an effective procedure to restore function to the heart valve and slow the onset of heart valve disease.