Minimal invasive mitral valve repair

  My mother is age 81 and has recently been diagnosed with a leaky mitral valve.  She has some symptoms such as fatigue, cough, some breathlessness.  She is in good health except for rheumatoid arthritis and this heart problem.  I have just recently learned of this minimal invasive mitral valve repair.  She lives in the New York City area and I live near Boston.  Do you know of any thorasic surgeons in either of these areas who may have trained at the Cleveland Clinic (or elsewhere) who are doing this type of surgery.  She is very reluctant tohave any surgery but this new technique sounds promising (of course she may not be a candidate).  She would probably not be willing to travel to Cleveland but might consider New York or Boston.
  Thank you

[CCF Cardio MD - MTR]

Dear Wendy, thank you for your question.  Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery
(repair and replacement) was pioneered at Cleveland Clinic by Dr. Delos Cosgrove.
Minimally invasive surgery decreases the post-operative recovery period and
allows patients to leave the hospital sooner.  Whether your mother would be
a candidate for mitral valve repair or replacement depends on what her mitral
valve looks like on echocardiography and what the surgeon sees at the time of
surgery.  The best known surgeon who performs minimally invasive mitral valve
surgery in the Boston area is Dr. Lawrence Cohn at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
His published results are excellent and similar to our results here at the
Cleveland Clinic.  I don't know of any surgeons in the New York area, but I'm
sure there are at least a few surgeons who are proficient with this surgical
technique.  Your mother's cardiologist in New York should know who those surgeons
are.  I hope this information helps.
Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Specific
diagnoses and therapies can only be provided by your physician.