Heart Valve Repair

Your heart has four valves that open to let blood pass through and close to prevent blood from flowing back in the wrong direction. Valvular surgery is performed to repair or replace heart valves that are blocked, narrowed (stenosis) or leaking (regurgitation). In most cases, our surgeons will seek to repair damaged heart valves instead of replacing them. This practice allows patients to avoid the use of blood thinners and reduces their risk of infection. In valve repair surgery, surgeons either loosen stiff valve leaflets or tighten loose valve leaflets. Most valve repair and replacement procedures can be performed using minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

How it works

There are several types of valve repair surgery. Some of the most common are:

• Balloon valvuloplasty is used to treat narrowing of a heart valve. A catheter is inserted through a large vein in the leg and threaded up to the valve. A balloon on the end of the catheter is then inflated to widen the opening of the valve. This allows more blood to flow through the valve.
• Traditional valve repair is a form of open heart surgery. Your surgeon will have direct access to the valves of your heart in order to make the needed repairs. Surgery may involve widening the valve opening, removing calcium deposits, reshaping the valve, patching holes or removing sections of the valve that interfere with its operation
• Minimally invasive valve repair uses smaller incisions to repair your heart's valves. Most valve repairs can be done in a minimally invasive fashion. The benefits of minimally invasive surgery include a smaller scar, less blood loss and a quicker recovery. Most people are candidates for minimally invasive valve surgery. Together, we will discuss the options best suited for accomplishing your goals of care.
• Mitral valve repair treats mitral valve insufficiency, also known as mitral regurgitation. This is when the mitral valve cannot close properly, causing blood to leak into the left atrium. Most valvular repair procedures are performed using minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

Risks

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Reaction to anesthesia
• Heart attack
• Irregular heartbeat
• Stroke
• Kidney failure
• Death

A seasoned team of experts who’ve led their field

Through our proven, multidisciplinary approach, UR Medicine Cardiac Care provides the most advanced valve repair surgeries and treatments available today. We regularly handle the most complex cases in the Rochester region with excellent outcomes.

Our team of surgeons has extensive experience with minimally invasive procedures, which can be effective for many valve repair surgery patients even the most challenging repairs. For instance, our surgeons routinely use minimally invasive procedures for mitral valve repair and replacement as well as tricuspid valve repair, replacement and aortic valve replacement. These operations are performed through an incision less than 2 inches in length.

For details on heart valve repair treatment at UR Medicine, call (585) 276-6339.