CardioSpecialists Group, Ltd.
About Port Access Mitral Valve Annuloplasty
What Is Port Access Mitral Valve Annuloplasty?
The mitral valve is between the left atrium and the left ventricle. If this valve malfunctions, it can leak or become narrowed. This prevents the blood from being pumped as efficiently as possible, and it can put excessive stress on the heart muscle.
How Is the Procedure Performed?
Small incisions will be made in your thigh and neck.
These sites will be used by the surgeon to connect you to a
heart lung machine, and to administer the drugs needed to
stop your heart during the procedure. Your blood will be
given oxygen with the use of the heart-lung machine which
will then pump it back into your body. To allow the surgeon
to see what he is doing during the procedure, he will make a
small incision in your armpit to insert a camera.
The annulus is the circle of collagen around your mitral
valve. If this ring is weak or misshapen, it can prevent the
valve from operating correctly. The surgeon will either add
an artificial ring or use a series of stitches to strengthen
the annulus. After this, the valve will be better able to
open and close tightly. Mitral valve annuloplasty may be
used with other procedures if needed. Your heart will then
be restarted and you will be removed from the artificial
heart-lung machine.
You will likely need to take medications to avoid blood clots at the repaired valve. You need to tell your current and future health care providers, including dentists, that you have had a mitral valve repair. The repair means that you are at an increased risk for contracting an infection during many medical and dental procedures, but by telling your physician about your condition, special precautions can be made.