Mitral valve repair and replacement

What is the mitral valve?

The mitral valve is a small flap in your heart that controls which direction your blood flows in and stops it from flowing the wrong way. The valve is located between the left atrium and left ventricle (the left-hand chambers) of your heart.  

Mitral valve repair and replacement are two types of procedure that are used to treat a leaky or stiff mitral valve within your heart.  

The procedures are designed to improve the flow of blood through your heart and lower your risk of developing further heart-related problems. They can be performed as open-heart surgery (via breastbone), minimally invasive surgery (8cm between the ribs), totally endoscopic (2- 3cm opening under the right breast) or minimally invasive non-surgical procedures (transcatheter procedures).  

The type of mitral valve procedure you have will depend on several factors, for example, how severe your condition is, your age and your other medical issues. Not all types of procedure are suitable for everyone.

What is mitral valve disease?

Mitral valve disease can present in different forms: 

• Mitral valve regurgitation occurs when the flaps of your mitral valve can’t close fully, causing blood to leak backwards. This can either be ‘primary’ such as mitral valve prolapse (elongation of valve leaflet chords) or flail due to rupture of the valve leaflet chords, or ‘secondary’ when it relates to a problem with the left ventricle, enlargement of the left atrium or infection.
• Mitral valve stenosis occurs when the valve flaps become thick and potentially fuse together, reducing blood flow to and from that area of your heart. This is most often a result of previous rheumatic heart disease but can be related to age or previous radiotherapy.

When your condition becomes severe enough (patients become symptomatic or the heart function deteriorates or the heart size enlarges), a procedure to repair or replace the defective valve will be recommended. 

Treatment for mitral valve disease 

Mitral valve repair and replacement are both used to treat mitral valve disease, with some key differences between the procedures and when each is recommended. There are also minimally invasive surgical and totally endoscopic (using a 4K 3D camera system with robotic arms) and non-surgical options for both types of procedures available at Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals.

What is a mitral valve repair?

Mitral valve repair is often the first step in treating regurgitation and may be recommended even if you are not experiencing any symptoms.  

It can be performed as open-heart surgery, minimally invasive, totally endoscopic keyhole surgery or as a transcatheter procedure. 

To repair your mitral valve, a specialist may:  

• use sutures or stitches to repair it 
• reshape it with a ring  
• remove excess tissue 
• use a device to clip the valve flaps together 
• attach artificial chords between the valve and heart muscle wall

What is a mitral valve replacement?

If your mitral valve disease is severe and not suitable to be repaired, a replacement will normally be recommended.  

This type of surgery involves removing the damaged valve and replacing it with one that is either mechanical (made from synthetic materials) or made from biological tissues. 

Minimally invasive mitral valve repair and replacement  

Our consultants at Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals are world renowned in minimally invasive and endoscopic mitral valve repair and replacement and have helped pioneer several techniques.  

Explore the minimally invasive and endoscopic robotic assisted procedures available at our hospitals below.

The transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) procedure for mitral valve regurgitation 

Transcatheter mitral valve repair is a minimally invasive technique to treat mitral valve regurgitation that avoids open-heart surgery. It utilises one of the currently available devices either MitraClip or Pascal. 

During the procedure, a small incision is made in your groin, where a catheter – a tube-like device – with the TEER device at its end is inserted. Using echo and x-ray imaging, the catheter is guided via your femoral vein to your heart where a cardiologist attaches the device to your mitral valve.  

The procedure takes between 1 and 2 hours, with patients reporting improved quality of life soon after. There are symptomatic improvements in 90-95% of patients.   

This procedure is particularly beneficial for patients where the risk of traditional open-heart surgery is too high or not appropriate. For example, if a patient is older or the mitral regurgitation is ‘secondary’ (for example, due to a weak heart muscle).  

Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals have the most experienced TEER team in the UK.

Balloon valvuloplasty for mitral valve stenosis 

A balloon valvuloplasty is a minimally invasive treatment that is delivered via a catheter. The catheter is directed to the heart via a small incision in the groin and guided by medical imaging. 

When the balloon is at the site of the narrowed mitral valve, it is inflated to widen the valve, before being deflated and removed. This procedure can treat mitral valve stenosis.  

Endoscopic (keyhole) mitral valve repair and replacement 

Our consultant cardiac surgeons have developed a new endoscopic (keyhole) procedure to repair or replace a damaged mitral valve. This innovative treatment offers an alternative to invasive open-heart surgery.

A small 2.5cm incision is made between your ribs to place an endoscope (a thin flexible tube with a camera at the end) to perform the surgery.  

A high-definition 3D camera is used to direct the procedure inside your heart, using robotic arms and it is completed in around 4 hours. 

An endoscopic mitral valve repair or replacement can enhance your recovery time while simultaneously reducing the size of the surgical scar when compared to traditional open-heart surgery. Studies have shown that this procedure is also just as safe.  

Patients are usually discharged in around 4 days after surgery and are back to normal activities (such as driving) within three weeks after surgery, compared to 3 months with traditional open-heart surgery.  

Our surgeons have performed endoscopic heart procedures almost 1,000 times at our hospitals, making them highly experienced.

NeoChord beating heart mitral valve repair

In some forms of mitral valve regurgitation and prolapse, the chords (called chordae tendinea) attaching the valve leaflets to the heart muscle wall can become elongated and/or torn, resulting in the valves not opening and closing as they should. 

The NeoChord beating heart mitral valve repair procedure is an innovative keyhole heart surgery that specifically repairs the chords that attach the mitral valve leaflets to the heart muscle wall.  

A surgeon will first make a small incision in between your ribs to advance the NeoChord system to the heart, guided by medical imaging. During the procedure, the surgeon will implant artificial chords which are adjusted to the optimal length to help the mitral valve open and close normally again. 

The NeoChord procedure is performed while your heart is still beating. This is beneficial for older patients or those that have health issues that can make traditional open-heart surgery high risk. As it is a keyhole heart procedure, the scarring is also minimal.

Tendyne Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR) procedure 

The Tendyne Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR) procedure may be recommended in severe cases of mitral valve regurgitation in patients that are older, frail or have health issues which make open heart surgery high risk. 

It is a minimally invasive procedure which, like our other keyhole heart procedures, requires only a small incision between the ribs. It also does not require the heart to be stopped.  

The new artificial mitral valve will be fed directly into your beating heart where it is secured in place with a tether. 

A research study on 100 patients with severe mitral valve regurgitation treated with Tendyne TMVR showed positive results. 93% of patients experienced no symptoms of the disease two years after the procedure.  

Royal Brompton Hospital is the only centre in the UK that offers the Tendyne TMVR procedure. 

How to prepare for a mitral valve repair or replacement  

Preparing for your procedure is important and your doctor will advise you on what exactly you need to do beforehand.  

Certain preparation advice often includes:  

• stopping certain medications as advised by your doctor 
• not eating or drinking anything for a certain amount of time before your appointment 
• bringing a list of medications, you take with you 
• advising of any allergies 
• bringing personal care items such as a toothbrush  
• wearing loose-fitting clothing

You may also be asked to remove any dentures, contact lenses, nail polish and jewellery before surgery.

Risks and complications of mitral valve repair or replacement 

All minimally invasive and surgical procedures have some risks and complications associated with them, including mitral valve repair and replacement.  

Some of the potential risks can include:  

• infection 
• blood clots 
• blood loss 
• malfunction of a new valve 
• irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) 
• stroke

However, in our experience (over 1,000 procedures) the risks associated with mitral valve repair and replacement are very low and happen rarely.

Mitral valve repair or replacement results and recovery process 

The recovery process for mitral valve repair and replacement is important as it helps enhance and maintain your results.  

For traditional open-heart surgery, you will be kept in the hospital for around seven days so you can be monitored. After this time, you will be allowed to go home but will need to make sure to rest and follow any instructions given to you by your doctor.  

You will not be able to drive, lift heavy objects or have sex for at least six to eight weeks. You should also speak with your doctor before doing anything strenuous.  

Your recovery time may be shorter if you have a minimally invasive procedure and even quicker with an endoscopic procedure. 

The results from your mitral valve procedure include:  

• relieving symptoms such as chest pain and breathlessness 
• reducing your chances of further heart problems such as heart failure 
• enhancing your overall heart function 
• allowing a normal life expectancy  

To make these results last, you will need to incorporate healthy lifestyle changes into your day-to-day life. This means you should try to exercise (within your abilities), reduce your alcohol intake, avoid smoking, eat a well-balanced diet and make sure you get enough sleep each night.  

All our patients are discussed in our unique, dedicated, mitral multidisciplinary team where a collegial decision is made, and the correct treatment is agreed.