Mitral Valve Repair

Minimally invasive mitral valve procedures involve smaller incisions. They typically have faster recovery times compared with open-heart surgery. Emory Heart & Vascular offers several minimally invasive mitral valve repair and replacement options.

• Balloon valvuloplasty: Our interventional cardiologists offer balloon valvuloplasty for people with mitral valve stenosis. Doctors thread a thin tube (catheter) through a blood vessel to the damaged mitral valve. The catheter carries a small, deflated balloon. Doctors inflate the balloon to stretch and open the valve.
• Minimally invasive surgery: During standard minimally invasive mitral valve repair or replacement surgery, surgeons make a three-inch incision on the right side of the chest. They use this incision to access the heart and repair or replace your damaged mitral valve.
• Percutaneous mitral valve clip placement: Interventional cardiologists thread a thin tube (catheter) through a vein in the groin. They use this tube to deliver a small clip to the heart’s mitral valve. The clip improves the mitral valve's function.
• Robotic mitral valve surgery: During robotic mitral valve surgery, surgeons place robotic operating tools into small incisions near your heart. They use computers and high-definition, 3D images to guide the robot’s movements inside the heart. In most cases, you can leave the hospital two to three days after robotic surgery. You will likely be able to return to normal activities within weeks.

Sometimes, you need traditional open surgery to repair or replace a damaged mitral valve. If you need a valve replacement, we offer mechanical (metal) valves and bioprosthetic (made from animal tissue) valves.