Mitral Valve Replacement - Technology And Processes
Did you know that with timely intervention and proper patient selection, the estimated success rate of mitral valve replacement surgery is around 95%? Moreover, it eliminates the need for re-operation for up to 10 years in almost 95% of patients.
The mitral valve is one of the four valves present in our heart. It helps blood flow in a proper direction throughout the heart and body, preventing the backflow of blood.
If the mitral valve is damaged, a surgical procedure, like mitral valve replacement (MVR), may be needed to replace the damaged valve with an artificial valve.
In this blog, we will discuss the techniques, processes, indications, cost, and everything about mitral valve replacement (MVR) surgery. Additionally, we will also discuss how cardiologist specialists and expert surgeons at The Valve Clinic can help you with mitral valve replacement.
What Is Mitral Valve Replacement?
As the name indicates, mitral valve replacement is a surgical procedure used to replace a damaged or diseased mitral valve with a mechanical valve or a valve made of animal tissue, commonly known as the bioprosthetic valve.
Mitral Valve Replacement Indications - Why Is It Done?
A mitral valve replacement or MVR surgery may be needed in the following conditions:
1) Mitral Valve Regurgitation
2) Mitral Valve Stenosis
Mitral Valve Stenosis
Mitral valve stenosis is a disease in which the flaps (leaflets) of the mitral valve become stiff or thick. This narrows the valve and reduces blood flow. Mitral valve replacement may be done in severe mitral valve stenosis or to prevent further complications. Your cardiologist can best decide if you need mitral valve replacement surgery according to your condition.
Mitral Valve Replacement Procedure
The mitral valve replacement procedure may involve the following steps:
- Before the procedure, you will receive general anesthesia.
- To keep blood flowing throughout the body during the surgery, you will be connected to a heart-lung bypass machine.
- Your mitral valve replacement surgery may involve any of the following techniques or procedures:
- Open-heart surgery
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Catheter-based procedure
- Robot-assisted heart surgery
- During mitral valve replacement surgery, a cardiologist replaces the diseased mitral valve with a mechanical valve or a biological valve tissue, a valve made from cow or human heart tissue.
- After the mitral valve surgery, you may need to stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital for two or more days, so the doctor can monitor your condition and recovery progress.
Open-heart surgery
In this technique, the diseased mitral valve is replaced by performing an incision in the chest.
Minimally invasive surgery
This process is the same as open-heart surgery, but it involves smaller chest incisions than the open-heart procedure.
Catheter-based procedure
The catheter-based procedure involves the insertion of a flexible, thin tube (catheter) in a vein that goes into the heart. The catheter is used to deliver a device that replaces or repairs the mitral valve.
Robot-assisted heart surgery
This technology is also a minimally-invasive procedure that uses robotic arms to perform mitral valve replacement surgery.
Risks Of Mitral Valve Replacement
The common risks of mitral valve replacement may include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Irregular heartbeat
- Malfunction of the replacement valve
- Stroke
- Damage to nearby organs
- Death
A cardiologist can best determine if mitral valve replacement is the best option for you, depending on your health condition, mitral valve disease, and risk factors. At The Valve Clinic, cardiologist specialists work with a team of trained professionals to choose and provide a specialized treatment plan and medical care depending on what procedure will work best for you.
Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery Survival Rate
The survival rate of mitral valve replacement depends on the patient’s age and disease severity. The risks of the surgery may increase as the age increases.
On average, the survival rate of mitral valve replacement surgery is around 93% to 98%. For patients aged over 65 years, the survival rate may be about 91%.
Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery Cost In India
The MVR surgery cost in India depends on various factors, like:
- The experience and qualifications of a cardiologist.
- The age, health condition of the patient, and severity of the disease.
- Whether health insurance covers your surgery cost and how much coverage they provide.
- The location and type of clinic you visit.
The average cost of mitral valve replacement in India ranges from Rs. 2,50,000 to 5,00,000.
How 'The Valve Clinic' Can Help With Mitral Valve Replacement?
At The Valve Clinic, our cardiovascular specialists and trained heart surgeons work with a team of medical experts to develop a specialized treatment plan according to the health needs and medical condition of the patient. We use advanced imaging technologies to ensure an in-depth scanning and diagnosis of the patient.
The cardiovascular experts and surgeons at The Valve Clinic are skilled and trained in providing heart valve surgeries and care, which gives them practical on-hand experience to evaluate and treat all patients who may need to undergo valve replacement surgery.
Book your appointment today for an in-depth evaluation and specialized treatment plan from our cardiovascular specialists and surgeons.