mitral valve heart disease

[demesne]

Hi, ive just been diagnosed with this condition and have been told i need open heart surgery which i really dont want, if i was ill then yes but i feel ok in myself just tired all the time. I have started having propblems with my eyes just recently would this be anything to do with the condition?. also if i do have to have surgery is there any other way other than open heart .

[kenkeith]

I have moderate to severe mitral valve regurgitation and an interest with long time standing.  I recently read by a renown surgeon that almost all heart valves can be accomlished by a very experienced surgeons.  I also have been delaying a valve operation as I don't have any symptoms that limit my quality of life!.  May be a mistake.

Then I have read a message from a Mayo Clinic surgeon who states the biggest problem he sees is that his patients have waited too long.  Waiting too long can enlarge the heart chamber and decrease the heart's pumping ability, and an operation under those circumstances may not restore the heart's ability to again pump with normal contractility.