Mitral Valve Repair Surgery

Davinic Surgical System
William V. Martinez Jr., MD
Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgeon

What is Mitral Valve Prolapse?

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is the most common cardiac syndrome, a genetic disorder likely to affect women three times more often than men.

MVP is a condition in which the mitral valve leaflets become ‘floppy’ or ‘loose,’ causing blood to leak through the valve. The mitral valve is located between the atrium (upper left chamber) and ventricle (lower left chamber) of the heart. (The ventricle is responsible for pumping oxygen-rich blood into the arteries. The arteries help to disperse the blood throughout the body.)

The mitral valve is made up of two flaps of tissue that normally open and close methodically, allowing the blood to flow in one direction – from the atrium to the ventricle. For a person with MVP, the flaps do not close evenly. During the heart’s contraction, the flaps may ‘billow’ backward slightly into the atrium, allowing blood to leak through the valve.

Symptoms of Mitral Valve Disease

Symptoms of Mitral Valve Disease may include:

  • shortness of breath
  • fatigue
  • loss of energy
  • swelling of the ankles
  • palpitations (extra or skipped heart beats).

Diagnosis of Mitral Valve Prolapse

As a result of MVP, a ‘clicking’ sound can often be detected with a stethoscope. However, a positive diagnosis is made with an echocardiogram. This diagnostic test uses ultrasound capabilities to examine the structure and motions of the heart. This gives doctors a clear picture detailing the severity of the leak.

Most patients with mitral valve prolapse do not have a leaky mitral valve and do not require surgery. But when a valve with prolapse has a severe leak, surgery should be considered.

Mitral Valve Repair Surgery Using da Vinci® S™ Surgical System

Prior to robotic surgery, undergoing mitral valve repair meant a large, foot-long vertical incision down a patient’s chest through the rib cage. This standard approach to conventional surgery resulted in a long and painful recovery for the patient.

Today, there is a more effective, less invasive treatment option available to address mitral valve disease. Using the da Vinci® S™ Surgical System, open heart surgery is now performed through a few small incisions.

With da Vinci, a surgeon can now perform a mitral valve repair through four, half inch incisions made between the ribs.

To perform the procedure, the surgeon sits at a remote console operating hand and foot controls linked to the robot. The robotic arms are inserted into the incisions to perform the procedure. A camera-like device is also inserted to give the surgeon a three-dimensional view of the operation. The robotic technology actually communicates the surgeon’s natural hand movements at the remote console to the instruments placed inside the small incisions. The instruments perform meticulously and mimic a surgeon’s movements with total stability.

da Vinci Cardiac Surgery - Patient Advantages

There are several advantages for the patient undergoing cardiac surgery with da Vinci versus conventional open heart surgery. Using the state-of-the-art robotic system, patients can experience:

  • Less pain
  • Less scarring
  • Less blood loss
  • Shorter hospital stay

The minimal incisions with the da Vinci robot allow for a quicker recovery period for the patient. In traditional open heart surgery, it has been found that a large fraction to the sternum (chest cavity) negatively impacts the patient’s ability to resume normal activities by several days. More importantly, a large incision to the chest increases the risk of infection.

For more information on whether da Vinci surgery is right for you, please call 1-877-STFRANCIS.