Surgery options for mitral valve stenosis
Surgery for mitral valve stenosis Balloon valvotomy or valvuloplasty (repair option) Mitral commissurotomy (repair option) Mitral valve replacement Recommended if:
- Valve leaflets are pliable
- No calcium buildup in area where valve leaflets have fused
Recommended if:
- Skilled cardiologist is not available to perform balloon valvotomy
- Heavy valve calcification is present
Recommended if:
- Valve is damaged beyond repair
- Mitral regurgitation is also present
Not recommended if:
- Valve leaflets are calcified
- Experienced technician is not available
- Blood clot is present in the left atrium
- Concurrent moderate or severe mitral regurgitation
Not recommended if:
- Percutaneous balloon valvotomy (valvuloplasty) is an option
Not recommended if:
- Either of the repair options are viable treatment options
Benefits:
- Nonsurgical procedure
- Nearly immediate results
- Usually doubles the valve area
- Good long-term outcomes
- Faster recovery time
Benefits:
- Nearly immediate results
- Usually doubles the valve area
Benefits:
- Corrects all mitral valve problems at the same time
Drawbacks:
- Valve can become blocked again after 10–20 years and may require replacement
- Can cause mitral regurgitation
Drawbacks:
- More invasive procedure than percutaneous balloon valvotomy
- Can cause mitral regurgitation
Drawbacks:
- Generally must take blood-thinning medication over the long term
- Open-heart procedure
| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: March 18, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology | |
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