If you have Mitral Valve Prolapse like me you are usually monitored by echocardiogram and not a candidate for surgery. However if you’ve had Rheumatic Fever or have a genetic defect of your Mitral Valve and have a narrowing or leaking, your cardiologist may have discussed replacing your diseased valve. This type of surgery uses a pig’s or cow’s valve to replace your diseased valve. The other option is a mechanical valve.
Mitral Valve replacement has risks depending on whether a biological or mechanical replacement has been used. For biological replacements they may wear out. The time frame depends on how old you are. For mechanical replacements you must take blood thinners for the rest of your life and there is still the chance of a stroke.
The other type of Mitral Valve Surgery is to repair instead of replace the valve. The Maryland Heart Center does 92% more repairs than replacements on their patients. The risks above do not apply if you have your valve repaired plus there is the option (depending on your surgeon’s approval) of not needing open heart surgery. Instead a minally invasive method is used so that recovery time is a lot quicker.
Take it from me. I didn’t have heart surgery but a thymectomy to help control the Myasthenia Gravis. It was performed like open heart surgery. It takes a long time to recover and gain back your strength. The muscles around my rib cage hurt for months and my ribs still hurt sometimes even years after the surgery.
Any way to avoid open heart surgery or having something transplanted into your body is the way to go.
