An open mitral valve replacement is a procedure for replacing a poorly functioning mitral valve with an artificial one. The mitral valve is one of the valves in the heart among others. It assists in the proper functioning of blood flow through the heart and the body. It lies between the left ventricle and the left atrium. If the valve is not functioning well, it puts too much stress on the heart making it difficult for the blood to circulate healthily.
If you often experience shortness of breath, light-headedness, or rapid heartbeat, book your appointment with one of the best cardiac specialists in Kolkata at CMRI for proper diagnosis and effective treatment solutions.
The benefits of mitral valve replacement surgery are profound and multi-faceted such as:
Alleviate symptoms associated with mitral valve disease, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and heart palpitations.
Successful replacement helps restore normal heart function
Improves overall cardiac efficiency and reduces the risk of heart failure.
Helps improve the quality of life, including increased physical activity tolerance and reduced hospital admissions for heart-related issues.
Addresses the valve dysfunction, the surgery prevents further damage to the heart and other organs.
Two main types of prosthetic valves involve mechanical valves and bioprosthetic (tissue) valves:
When there are issues with the mitral valve, it is known as mitral valve disease. For some individuals, the disease is silent and they don’t experience any symptoms until it becomes severe. When symptoms occur, they usually experience issues like light-headedness, shortness of breath, and increased heartbeat. There are two forms of mitral valve illness: which is mitral valve stenosis- this form causes less flow of blood through the heart chambers, and mitral valve regurgitation which indicates that there is a blood leakage in the mitral valve. There are health conditions which increase the demand for surgery:
There are various factors which lead to mitral valve replacement surgery. In certain cases, the illness is simply an outcome of ageing and the mitral valve wearing out. Here is why the surgery is done:
When a patient has severe regurgitation (leaky valve)
The cost of mitral valve replacement surgery can vary widely based on factors such as geographic location, the type of hospital, the choice between a mechanical or bioprosthetic valve, and the patient's overall health status. In India, the cost can range from INR 3,00,000-8,00,000, including pre-operative evaluations, the surgery itself, and post-operative care. Insurance coverage, including Medicare and Medicaid, often covers a significant portion of the cost, but patients may still need to consider co-pays, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket expenses. Patients must discuss financial aspects with their healthcare providers and insurance companies to understand the specific costs involved.
Various mitral valve replacement complications can be experienced by the patient with mitral valve illness if left untreated:
The healthcare team and the doctor help the patient prepare for the surgery. It is vital to follow the doctor’s instructions. They will ask the patient to follow these steps:
During the mitral valve replacement procedure, the surgeon will begin fixing one or more problems with the patient’s valve. There are various mitral valve replacement procedure steps following during the surgery and they are:
After the mitral valve replacement surgery, the patient can expect:
BM Birla Heart Research Centre is a super speciality hospital with modern infrastructure and state-of-the-art technology in Kolkata. BM Birla Heart Research Centre is the only hospital offering valvular surgery in the entire Eastern India. With a 200+ bed capacity, cardiac care, atrial fibrillation services, cath labs, and modular OTs, BM Birla Heart Research Centre has made a mark with its singular focus on the treatment of a variety of ailments.
Here are a few advantages of choosing BM Birla Heart Research Centre for Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery in Kolkata-
The success rate of heart valve replacement surgery is over 95%. The results depend on different factors like the general health of a patient, the type of valve involved, and the extent of the surgery.
Heart valves shrinking occur because of calcification or fibrosis, usually due to ageing, infection, or inflammatory conditions. This process referred to as stenosis causes the valve to narrow, impeding blood flow and aggravating the amount of work on the heart.
Most patients live 10-20 years or more, depending on age, general well-being, and the kind of valve (biological or mechanical) with successful heart valve replacement. Regular medical follow-up is crucial to ensure long-term health and valve function monitoring.