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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Minimal invasive mitral valve surgery
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Minimal invasive mitral valve surgery
by Mike-D, Feb 11, 1999 12:00AM
I have recently been told by my cardiologist that I have severe mitral valve
regurgitation and need surgery.I am interested in knowing the requirements to
be a candidate for the minimal invasive mitral valve surgery.Can this surgery be done
for repair or replacement? I am also in atrial fib. is there anything that can be done to
correct this during surgery? My cardiologist is associated with Lankenau Hospital in
Wynnwood, Pa. are there surgeons there or in the area that are proficent with the
minimal invasive surgery? I am 65 years old in very good physical comdition.
Thank you very much;
Doctor's Answer
by CCF CARDIO MD APS, Feb 11, 1999 12:00AM
_
Dear Mike,
Minimally invasive valve surgery is done for two reasons: 1)minimize the scar, and 2)shorten recovery time.
It is usually done in patients having their first open heart surgery, on patients with a single valvular problem or singular coronary blockage.
Of course it is a given that the surgeon/surgical team be experienced in this fairly new technique.
Both valve repair or replacement can be done by the minimally invasive technique.
It is a good possibility that once your mitral valve is repaired/replaced, that your a.fib will go away with alittle
help and time; i.e. the a.fib is a complication of the severe mitral regurgitation.
I apologize, I am still researching who in that area is not only proficient in minimally invasive surgery but who is experienced with mitral valve repair, a fairly new technique that has undergone revisions
(of the technique) even in just the past two years.
I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for
general purposes only. Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies.
Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please
call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at
www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the
cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your
cardiac problem.
