Mitral valve repair
Another way to heal your heart
Are you in need of mitral valve repair surgery (also known as bicuspid valve repair)? This surgery can lower your risk of stroke and infection, free you from blood thinners and improve your daily living.
At Sharp, we offer less-invasive surgery options that can minimize pain and lead to a quicker recovery. Compared to traditional open-heart surgery, the benefits of minimally invasive surgery may include:
Fewer complications
Less blood loss
Less pain
Less risk of infection
Less scarring
Quicker recovery
Find a heart valve surgeon
Choose the San Diego heart valve surgeon who's right for you.
Mitral valve procedures and surgery options
Sharp HealthCare provides the following options for mitral valve treatment.
Sharp's affiliated surgeons routinely perform minimally invasive mitral valve repair surgery. In minimally invasive valve surgery, the incision is much smaller — about 3 inches instead of the 6 to 8 inches required for traditional cardiac surgery. The surgery can be completed with small incisions through the lower breastbone. The benefit to patients is dramatic: shorter healing time and hospital stays, less scarring, reduced pain and a lower chance of infection.
Surgeons at Sharp are leaders in robotic surgery. Learn more about robotic heart surgery.
The Maze procedure is often performed during mitral valve repair surgery. Surgeons perform Maze surgery to treat chronic atrial fibrillation (AFib), a fast, irregular heart rhythm where the upper chambers of the heart contract in an uncoordinated fashion. AFib is dangerous because it can cause blood to pool in the upper chambers, leading to blood clots. A stroke can occur if a blood clot travels from the heart and blocks a small artery in the brain.
The procedure typically adds only about 20 to 30 minutes to the surgery and can be effective in eliminating AFib. Many patients who receive both a mitral valve repair and a Maze procedure no longer need to take long-term blood-thinning medications.
The Mini-Maze procedure is often performed on patients suffering from mitral valve disease and AFib. Tiny incisions are created in the chest and an energy source is used to block the arrhythmia's path. This minimally invasive procedure does not require opening the chest, so it has a shorter recovery time than more invasive surgical options.
The MitraClip® procedure is a treatment for patients unable to have open-heart surgery due to age or other medical conditions. The device is inserted through the femoral vein — a blood vessel in the leg — to clip together a portion of the mitral valve, allowing the heart to pump blood more efficiently.
Cardiac care the way it should be
At Sharp, we're proud to lead the charge in heart care. It's part of our history. We've pioneered many new cardiac technologies, including the first open-heart surgery, first heart transplant and first cardiac catheterization in San Diego. A robust team of internationally renowned heart specialists — including cardiac surgeons, nurses and board-certified pulmonologists — is committed to your care from before surgery through rehabilitation and recovery at home. We are here to help you face whatever comes your way. It's the care you need, when you need it.
Learn more about mitral valve surgery at Sharp
To learn more about minimally invasive heart valve repair, please read our frequently asked questions about robotic heart surgery. To find a cardiovascular specialist right for you, call us at 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.
Locations of mitral valve repair in San Diego
Sharp offers mitral valve repair and replacement at the following locations.
