Operation

Surgical therapy cannot be recommended for every mitral valve insufficiency. Depending on the severity of the condition and the predominant concomitant diseases, individual surgical indications and contraindications may exist. In general, the indications for surgical therapy differ according to whether primary or secondary mitral valve insufficiency is present.

As a rule, severe mitral valve insufficiencies are an indication for surgical intervention. Depending on the pumping function of the heart, moderate mitral valve insufficiency may also be an indication for surgery. If symptoms occur that are directly or indirectly caused by mitral valve insufficiency, surgery is usually considered.

Even if conservative treatment options have been exhausted, surgical treatment may still be the next therapeutic step. In any case, the function of the heart is an important factor in determining whether surgery is indicated. A relevant heart failure, for example, can represent a contraindication for surgery.

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with surgery for mitral valve insufficiency. Since the operations sometimes differ significantly depending on the underlying cause of the insufficiency, different risks exist for each operation. In general, surgery for primary mitral valve insufficiency tends to be less risky than surgery for secondary mitral valve insufficiency.

This is mainly due to the fact that cardiac performance is often impaired in secondary-cause insufficiencies. Risks of surgery can include blood clots, cardiac arrhythmia, and wound healing disorders. An incorrectly functioning valve reconstruction can also occur in individual cases.

Any risks that may occur due to anesthesia are also part of the procedure and should be taken seriously. The duration of the operation depends largely on the procedure performed. While minimally invasive procedures can be completed within one hour, open heart surgery usually takes a little longer.

Again, a distinction must be made between whether the operation is connected to the heart-lung machine or whether the operation can be performed on the beating heart. Open heart surgery usually takes about 2-3 hours. Complications during the operation or individual planning can extend the operation by a few hours.