What are the advantages and disadvantages of Valve Repair versus Replacement?
Valve Repair – The major advantages of valve repair relate to the fact that we are preserving the patients own valve. This is advantageous as we do not have to buy a costly prosthesis (replacement valve), and because the patient’s own tissues are preserved and therefore there is no need for anti-coagulation. The major disadvantage of this approach is the difficulty in repairing valve lesions in dogs. Unlike humans, who present very early in the course of their disease, dogs usually present relatively late in the course of the disease. By this time, the valve is usually extremely abnormal and repair aimed to fully correct the leaky valve is often unrealistic. As a consequence, most patients still have mild to moderate leak through the valve, even after a “successful” repair. This makes the post-operative management of the patient extremely challenging. The good news is that if the patient survives the procedure, the residual leak is usually well tolerated with 75% of patients having res
