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L i v e Yo u n g e r L o n g e r
Wear and tear
Mitral valve problems can be brought on
by a number of things, including rheumatic
fever, infection, and other heart problems
such as a previous heart attack. Sometimes
the valve simply wears out.
“Sometimes it’s just a function of genes and
bad luck,” says Gan H. Dunnington, MD, a
cardiothoracic surgeon at Adventist Heart
Institute. “It’s not really anything that you
did that caused it.”
Advantages of surgery
Often, a minor mitral valve leak can be
managed with medicine for years. But
surgery may be needed if symptoms get
worse. That’s especially true if a patient also
has AFib, which can lead to stroke. Mitral
valve replacement or repair is a delicate
open-heart procedure. But skilled surgeons
can often perform it without long incisions
or a need to split the breastbone.
“At the Adventist Heart Institute, we can
do it through small keyhole incisions on
the right chest between the ribs,” says
Dr. Dunnington. Since AFib and mitral
disease can go together “like peanut butter
and jelly,” Dr. Dunnington says, if the one
needs treatment, the other should also be
Surgery can improve quality of life
To learn more about treatment
for mitral valve disorder,
contact us at 888.529.9018.
Or visit our website at
.
checked. “It doesn’t make any sense to fix
one without fixing the other. The long-term
success rates are a lot better when you
take care of it all at once.”
Whether we know it or not, we
put a lot of pressure on our heart
valves. That includes the mitral
valve. This valve controls the flow
of oxygen-rich blood from the
lungs to the body. When it works
right, blood moves smoothly in
one direction. If it doesn’t, it’s
probably because one of two
things have gone wrong:
n
Regurgitation:
Some blood
leaks back toward the lungs.
It’s the most common mitral
valve problem.
n
Stenosis:
The valve becomes
narrow and doesn’t allow
enough blood through.
Both conditions force the heart
to work harder than it should.
In time, symptoms can include
shortness of breath and a heart
rhythm problem called atrial
fibrillation (AFib).
Having heart surgery is a big
decision, but it’s often the
best option. Not only does
it allow you to live longer,
but your overall quality of
life is much better.
“
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Mitral valve
repair
Gan H. Dunnington, MD,
Cardiothoracic Surgeon
