Valve Surgery
Mitral Valve Reconstruction
The mitral valve (the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle) is composed of the front (anterior) leaflet, the back (posterior) leaflet, a flexible ring (annulus) that surround and gives attachments to the leaflets, two papillary muscles originating from the ventricular wall and attached to the leaflet by multiple chordae.
A stenosis (tightness) of the mitral valve is usually rheumatic in origin, while the most common causes of incompetence (impaired closure) are degeneration, inflammation and shortage of blood supply (ischemia).
While mitral stenosis is treated in many cases by valve replacement, mitral repair is the first choice in cases of mitral incompetence.
The aim of mitral repair is to reach adequate coaptation (contact surface) between the anterior and posterior mitral leaflets.
In most of the operations this aim can be achieved using special suture techniques and enforcement of the posterior part of the annulus by a synthetic half ring.
In this way, a practically complete competence of the mitral valve is restored. The freedom from re-operation after mitral valve repair is about 94 % after 10 years and about 92 % after 20 years according to a study from Carpentier.
Please also take notice of the Therapy Practices
For more details please visite the Guidebook for Patients
