I Had Surgery For Mitral Valve Prolapse And I Was Home Two Days Later Without A Visible Scar!

Mitral Valve Prolapse is a condition that can be described as a loose and floppy heart valve leaflet that can cause a severe leakage of the mitral valve. Our statistics show that 17% of women between the ages of 25 and 40 are affected by this pathology. That amounts to one woman out of six! Once the diagnosis is known it is essential to repeat an echocardiogram at regular intervals to make sure that there is not a severe mitral valve leakage and we always recommend taking antibiotics prior to dental or other medical procedures that release bacteria in the blood stream.

This is advised to avoid a dangerous infection of the valve known as Endocarditis. When the leakage becomes severe most patients notice increasing{dyspnea| shortness of breath}, palpitations, low energy levels, anxiety, panic attacks and after a while leg swelling and water in the lungs. Let me make it absolutely clear: this problem must be fixed surgically before it damages the heart. The prospect of surgery brings obviously a lot of questions and intense fear about what to expect. I'll answer the most common concerns and questions I get from my patients.

What's the risk? In experienced hands a mitral valve repair operation carries a risk of less than 1%
Can the mitral valve be repaired rather than replaced with a prosthetic valve? An expert mitral valve surgeon can repair a mitral valve prolapse in over 95% of the cases.
How long is the scar? A minimally invasive heart surgeon can perform the operation through a 2" long incision. This tiny scar is completely hidden in the skin fold underneath the breast and looks pretty much like a plastic surgery scar. It won't be noticed no matter what you are wearing!
Is it a long recovery? Most patients are back on their feet in less than 24 hours and are discharged home in 48 hours. I generally recommend about ten days of rest before resuming full physical and work activity.
Is there any good alternative to surgery? No! It is a mechanical problem and it requires a very precise surgical repair to give our patients a reliable and permanent solution to their problem.
Can I wait or do I have to do it right away? Every situation is different and should be assessed by an expert mitral valve surgeon. If you have a severeleakage with symptoms you are much better off with an early mitral valve repair.
What happens if I don't get the surgery? The heart will progressively and irreversibly weaken and your symptoms will get worse with the onset of congestive heart failure, lung congestion, big swollen legs and profound dyspnea and weakness. Your heart rhythm will often become irregular (atrial fibrillation) and require coumadin, a blood thinnerblood thinners to help prevent strokes. In other words, it is not a good idea: you won't survive as long OR as well as a someone in the same situation who had a successful mitral valve repair. If you are experiencing these symptoms or you have been told that you have mitral valve disease start shopping for a reputable Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery Center to discuss your best options to restore a perfectly normal life style and life expectancy. If there are no experts in these repairs in your neighborhood, it is well worth a trip out of town to have these better choices available. It's your heart, it's your body, it's your life!

By: Giovanni B. Ciuffo, MD

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Visit us for more information and lots of surgical pictures about Dr. Ciuffo's revolutionary Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery techniques. Dr. Giovanni B. Ciuffo is a "superspecialist" in Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repairs, Aortic Valve Replacements and Coronary Bypass Surgery. He currently runs a busy Cardiothoracic Surgery practice at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, where he cares for numerous patients coming from the Tri-State Area and the rest of the country. He is a faculty member of the Mount Sinai School of medicine in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and is often invited to lecture on his minimally invasive cardiac surgery techniques.