What are the benefits of my surgeon repairing my mitral valve?
• A lower risk of death at the time of operation (1-2% for repair versus 6-8% for replacement). • A significantly lower risk of stroke, and a lower rate of infection. • Improved long-term survival with mitral valve repair. • Patients who receive a valve repair stay on the same survival curve as the normal population. • After mitral valve repair, blood thinners are not required, in contrast to the life-long requirement for blood thinners after mechanical mitral valve replacement. Is there any increase in risk with these procedures? There is no increased risk with minimally invasive procedures. The operations within the heart are performed with the same techniques used in standard heart surgery, just via smaller, less painful incisions. You will receive the same quality surgery as is performed through large incision approaches. The physicians of Phoenix Cardiac Surgery perform the following procedures using minimally invasive techniques: • Aortic valve replacement • Atrial septal defects
