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Mitral valve surgery
SURGERY FOR LEAKING OR NARROWED (STENOSED) MITRAL VALVE
Surgery to repair or replace a diseased mitral valve
About a mitral valve repair
Mitral valve surgery replaces or repairs the mitral valve in your heart, which is located between the left atrium and left ventricle.
Surgery is needed when the valve leaks or is narrowed (stenosed). Leakage occurs for a number of reasons. Surgery is offered when the leakage is too severe to be managed with tablets.
Narrowing of the mitral valve is now rare as it was usually developed after rheumatic fever, rarely seen these days. Most cases of mitral stenosis are treated by balloon dilation of the valve. Surgery can be done as open or by minimally invasive techniques such as endoscopic cardiac surgery which are available at HCA UK
Need to know
Valve repair: this treats regurgitation or prolapse. Your surgeon will repair the valve to stop it leaking. Valve replacement: this is sometimes used to treat stenosis or when valve repair is not possible. The valve is replaced with a mechanical man-made or tissue valve.
Mitral valve surgery can be made through a minimal access, using several small incisions, or can be performed through one large incision through the breast bone. Both are carried out under general anaesthetic and you will be connected to a heart-lung machine for these types of surgery.
Your consultant will explain the procedure and answer any questions you might have. Like all procedures, there may be some risks or side effects involved. As the procedure happens under general anaesthetic, you will need to fast beforehand.
You should be able to leave hospital around one week after surgery, with a follow-up review after three-to-six weeks.
You should build up your activity levels slowly, and your consultant will let you know when you can get back to your usual routine, including work or exercise.
Our Mitral valve surgery locations
The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.