Mitral Valve Disease

The mitral valve sits between the heart's left atrium and left ventricle. It opens to allow blood to move forward and closes to prevent blood from flowing backward.

Mitral valve disease occurs when the valve becomes damaged or does not function properly. The two most common types are mitral valve regurgitation and mitral valve stenosis.

Mitral valve regurgitation

Mitral valve regurgitation occurs when the valve does not close completely. This allows blood to leak backward into the left atrium each time the heart pumps.

Over time, the heart may need to work harder to circulate blood, which can lead to symptoms and potentially heart failure if left untreated.

Mitral valve stenosis

Mitral valve stenosis occurs when the valve becomes narrowed or stiff and cannot open fully. This restricts blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle.

The reduced blood flow can increase pressure within the heart and lungs, leading to symptoms that affect daily activities and quality of life.

Symptoms can vary depending on the type and severity of mitral valve disease.

Common symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath, especially during activity
• Fatigue or reduced stamina
• Heart palpitations
• Chest discomfort
• Dizziness or fainting
• Swelling in the legs, ankles or feet
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat

Some people may not experience symptoms until the condition becomes more severe.

Mitral valve disease is often detected through a heart murmur, symptoms that suggest a valve problem or findings during a routine cardiac evaluation. Diagnosis typically begins with a cardiologist, who may work closely with cardiac imaging specialists, structural heart experts and cardiac surgeons to evaluate the condition and develop a treatment plan.

Your care team may use:

• Physical examination
• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Cardiac CT scan
• Cardiac MRI
• Cardiac catheterization

These tests help determine the type of mitral valve disease, its severity and the most appropriate treatment approach. If intervention is needed, cardiologists and cardiac surgeons work together to determine whether transcatheter treatment, mitral valve repair or mitral valve replacement is the best option.

Treatment depends on the type of mitral valve disease, the severity of symptoms and your overall heart health. UC Health offers both surgical and transcatheter treatment options.

Surgical mitral valve repair

When possible, repairing the mitral valve is often preferred because it preserves the patient's natural valve. Depending on the patient's anatomy and needs, UC Health offers traditional, minimally invasive and robotic-assisted approaches to mitral valve repair.

One common repair technique is annuloplasty, which reinforces or reshapes the ring surrounding the valve to improve how the valve opens and closes.

Mitral valve repair may be performed through:

• Traditional open-heart surgery
• Minimally invasive surgical approaches
• Robotic-assisted surgery using the da Vinci® Surgical System

Surgical mitral valve replacement

If the valve is too damaged to repair, replacement may be recommended.

During this procedure, the damaged mitral valve is removed and replaced with a mechanical or tissue valve. At UC Health, mitral valve replacement can be performed using traditional surgery, minimally invasive surgical techniques or a robotic-assisted approach in appropriately selected patients.

Transcatheter mitral valve repair

Transcatheter mitral valve repair is a minimally invasive procedure performed through a catheter inserted into a blood vessel.

Unlike surgical repair, this approach does not require opening the chest. It may be an option for patients who are considered high risk for surgery or who have certain types of mitral valve regurgitation.

Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR)

Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is a minimally invasive alternative to surgical valve replacement for select patients with severe mitral valve disease.

Using catheter-based technology, specialists place a new valve within the heart without the need for traditional open-heart surgery. TMVR may be considered for patients who are not candidates for conventional surgery or who have complex valve conditions.

UC Health offers a team-based approach to mitral valve care, bringing together cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, imaging specialists and structural heart experts to evaluate each patient's condition. Our surgical program includes traditional, minimally invasive and robotic-assisted mitral valve surgery, including both repair and replacement in appropriately selected patients.

By offering transcatheter treatment together with traditional, minimally invasive and robotic surgical approaches, we can recommend the treatment that best matches each patient's anatomy, needs and goals.

If you have been diagnosed with mitral valve disease or are experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue or heart palpitations, UC Health's heart and vascular specialists can help. Schedule an appointment to learn more about your treatment options and receive a thorough evaluation from our valve disease experts.

Schedule online or call 513-475-8521.