Mitral Valve Repair

Posted By shannon on February 17, 1999 at 13:46:28:







On a stress echo yesterday, the report said "1815 ventricular ectopy beats" (12-minute test).  What does this mean?
Secondly, after reviewing the echo results, etc., my cardiologist told me I need to have mitral valve repair or replacement relatively immediately (2 - 3 weeks).  Surgeon believes I have a good chance for a repair instead of replacment.  My question is:  is the recovery period the same?  does a repair require the use of long-term medications (e.g., Coumadin)?  Is is true that repair surgery (time in OR) is longer for repair than for replamcement; if so, why?
This is an important forum.  My thanks to CCF for keeping it going.
Shannon