The Mitral valve situated in the left side of the heart prevents the backward flow of blood from the left ventricle to the left atrium. Some people may suffer from mitral valve regurgitation, wherein the valve is not able to close properly or mitral valve stenosis, wherein the valve becomes narrow or not able to open completely. The failure to open or close mitral valves can lead to heart damage and heart failure. Mitral valve repair is a surgical procedure to mend a mitral valve that is malfunctioning because of valvular heart disease. Mitral Valve Repair in India is performed by the best heart surgeon, Dr. Sujay Shad.

He is known as the best heart specialist in India and specializes in performing lifesaving heart surgeries like Heart Transplants, Coronary Bypasses, HOCM, Aortic Surgery, and Mitral Valve at Best Hospital for Heart Surgery in India, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, located at Rajinder Nagar, Delhi.

Mitral valve repair surgery may be performed to:

• Reconnect the leaflets of the mitral valve
• Patch the holes created in the mitral valve
• Replace the supporting cords of the mitral valve to repair its structure
• Eliminate the excess tissues of the mitral valve to allow tight close of the flaps
• Separate the fused valve leaflets.

How is mitral valve repair surgery carried out?

Before the treatment, the patient is provided with sedation i.e. general anesthesia to put them under sleep and make the overall procedure comfortable. During the procedure, a heart-lung bypass machine is connected to the patient’s heart which helps in keeping the blood moving through the entire body and assist in breathing.

There are different techniques to repair mitral valve which are mostly performed during open-heart surgery which involves cutting the opening of the chest. These include:

• Annuloplasty– In this method, the unusual section of the valve is cut out, the edges are stitched together, and around the valve (i.e. annulus) a cloth-colored ring is tightened or reinforced.
• Comissurotomy– It is an invasive procedure to relieve mitral valve stenosis by separating the mitral valve flaps.
• Valvuloplasty– It involves the use of a balloon-tipped catheter to widen the narrow opening of the mitral valve. The catheter is inserted through a vein in the arm or groin area and guided to the heart to the location of the mitral valve. On reaching there, the balloon is inflated to relieve stenosis.
• Mitral valve clip– It is a transcatheter procedure wherein a clip is present on the end of the catheter. This clip helps to fix a leaky or torn mitral valve leaflet. It is recommended in case of severe mitral valve regurgitation.

In some patients, a minimally invasive technique that involves making a small incision to remove abnormal parts of the valve or widen the narrow mitral valve is performed. This involves a shorter stay at the hospital, less pain or discomfort, and quick recovery.

The method involves the use of a catheter which is inserted into the vein through a cut and guide to the heart. Through the placed catheter, the surgical tools to repair the mitral valve are delivered which makes the entire process easier and involves less going under the knife. This is done in the catheterization lab by the cardiologist.

If the damage caused to the mitral valve is beyond repair, then the surgery is done for its replacement.

How to prepare for the surgery?

The doctor may ask the patients to take some tests including an echocardiogram to gather some information regarding the condition of their heart. Prior to the procedure, the concerned doctor may discuss with the patients any concerns that they may be having and explain to them in detail what to expect. One can get this surgery benefit of Mitral Valve Repair in Delhi at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

Benefits of mitral valve repair over replacement:

• Lower chances of heart stroke and infection
• Better survival rates
• Improved functioning of the heart and better life quality of the patient after the surgery
• No requirement of blood thinners post-surgery.

To get the benefits of lifesaving of Mitral Valve Repair in India, one can consult the best heart surgeon in Delhi, Dr. Sujay Shad at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.