Heart Port Mitral Valve Repair

A defect of the heart's mitral valve can lead to mitral valve regurgitation. Eventually, this can lead to heart failure. If regurgitation is severe, surgery may be needed. Traditionally, open heart surgery was necessary. However, heart port mitral valve repair is a less invasive option.

How It Works

• Three small incisions are made in the thigh, neck and armpit. The heart is attached to a heart-lung machine which circulates oxygen into the blood while the heart is stopped. A camera and surgical tools are inserted into the patient's incisions.

Early Outcome

• A 2009 Mayo Clinic study of 350 heart port surgery patients found that heart port access mitral valve repair results were similar to results from traditional open heart surgery.

Long-term Outcome

• In a 2008 study, the East Carolina Heart Institute determined long-term survival and re-operation rates for patients of heart port mitral valve repair were similar to those who received traditional open heart surgery.

Benefits

• A 1998 study by Duke University Medical Center found that the smaller incisions of heart port mitral valve repair lead to a quicker return to normal activity than traditional mitral valve surgery.

Considerations

• While heart port mitral valve repair provides the same results as traditional surgery, very few hospitals have the expertise necessary to provide this service.