Mitral Valve Replacement
Mitral valve replacement operations are considered among the classifications of delicate heart surgeries. The mitral valve is one of the four main valves in the heart muscle (the tricuspid valve, the aortic valve, the pulmonary valve, and the mitral valve). The mitral valve controls the flow of blood from the left atrium to the left ventricle of the heart. The right atrium receives oxygenated blood during the heart muscle contraction, and in that position, the mitral valve is closed. During the heart muscle relaxation, the valve opens to pump blood into the right ventricle, then closes. Mitral valve defects occur for various reasons. If the defect is serious and the symptoms of the disease appear, affecting the patient's life, then mitral valve replacement surgery may be necessary.
What Are the Treatment Methods for Mitral Valve Diseases?
Treatment methods for mitral valve diseases vary depending on the patient's condition. Among these methods are:
- Open-heart Surgery
Some patients may require repair or replacement of the mitral valve, and sometimes doctors opt for surgical intervention even if the symptoms are not clearly apparent, as a preventive measure to protect the patient from future complications.
The doctor directs the patient to undergo tests and examinations before performing mitral valve repair or replacement surgery, including blood tests, kidney function tests, X-rays, and electrocardiography, with the aim of evaluating the current condition of the patient.
A week before the operation, the doctor advises the patient to refrain from certain medications that may cause blood clots, as well as to stop smoking or consuming any alcoholic beverages.
Mitral valve repair or replacement operations are performed by the doctor creating an incision in the chest area adjacent to the heart muscle, then the skin and tissues are moved, followed by cutting the breastbone. Then the patient is connected to a heart-lung machine to function as the heart until the operation is completed, after which the doctor repairs or replaces the mitral valve.
In most cases, this procedure takes between 3-6 hours and is performed by a team of doctors, requiring extensive expertise to ensure the success of the operation.
- Medications
Therapeutic medications help alleviate the severity of symptoms resulting from mitral valve defects, but do not treat stenosis or regurgitation of blood. Among these medications is penicillin, which is used to treat rheumatic fever, as well as the use of heart rate-regulating medications, in addition to diuretics. Medications are generally resorted to in mild cases that can coexist with limited defects in the mitral valve.
- Catheterization
Mitral valve repair can be performed via catheterization, where the doctor inserts the catheter through the neck, arm, thigh, or arm, and guides it using a computer until it reaches the heart muscle. Then the doctor performs the mitral valve repair operation, which is generally only performed in cases of mild mitral valve damage.
