Mitral valve repair is an open heart procedure performed to treat stenosis (narrowing) or regurgitation (leakage) of the mitral valve . Blood flows from the lungs, where it picks up oxygen, and into the heart through the mitral valve. When it opens, the mitral valve allows blood to flow into the heart’s main pumping chamber called the left ventricle. It then closes to keep blood from leaking back into the lungs when the ventricle contracts (squeezes) to push blood out to the body. It has two flaps, or leaflets.

The mitral valve is highlighted on this illustration of a heart. The mitral valve is the “inflow valve” for the left side of the heart. Blood flows from the lungs, where it picks up oxygen, and into the heart through the mitral valve.

Occasionally, the mitral valve is abnormal from birth. More often the mitral valve becomes abnormal with age or as a result of rheumatic fever. In rare instances the mitral valve can be destroyed by infection or a bacterial endocarditis. Mitral regurgitation may also occur as a result of ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease). When it opens, the mitral valve allows blood to flow into the heart’s main pumping chamber called the left ventricle. It then closes to keep blood from leaking back into the lungs when the ventricle contracts (squeezes) to push blood out to the body. It has two flaps, or leaflets.

Often the mitral valve is so damaged that it must be replaced. Mitral valve repair is performed to correct a leaking or regurgitant valve. Valves regurgitant due to bacterial endocarditis can be repaired, however the majority of mitral valve repairs are performed for degenerative disease.

Most people are sitting out of bed a day or two after their operation, and return home within about a week. On average, it takes most people between 2-3 months to fully recover, but this can vary greatly as it depends on your individual condition and how old you are.

Leonardo da Vinci – Corpus of the Anatomical Studies – the mitral valve apparatus