When diagnosed with Mitral Valve disease there are a number of treatments one could choose depending on the severity of their condition. If the symptoms in the patient are very mild and tests reveal that the condition is not overly serious, a doctor may simply use careful monitoring as a potential mitral valve treatment. If the patient’s condition is moderate to severe, one of the more hands on mitral valve treatments may be necessary.
Mitral Valve Treatment — Medication
Medications can be used as a viable mitral valve treatment as they can help reduce the heart’s workload and regulate its rhythm. Although no medications can cure mitral valve disease, some medications may be prescribed to ease some of the symptoms of this disease such as:
- Diuretics — Diuretics lower the fluid and salt levels in the body which allow blood to flow through the valves with less pressure.
- Anticoagulants — Anticoagulants prevent blood clots in patients who have heart rhythm problems or heart valve surgery.
- Calcium Channel Blockers and Beta-blockers — These affect muscle tissue contractions in the heart and lower blood pressure.
- ACE inhibitors — ACE inhibitors widen blood vessels, lower blood pressure and decrease the heart's workload.
Mitral Valve Treatment — Surgery
Mitral Valve Treatment — Mitral Valve Repair
The preferred surgical option for patients with mitral valve disease is to repair of their native valve. This mitral vale treatment requires special expertise, but the advantages for the patient are significant including — improved life expectancy, avoidance of long-term anticoagulation (use of blood thinners), and better preservation of native heart function.
There are different techniques to achieve a successful mitral valve repair. Reconstruction of the valve leaflets may be required along with reinforcement of the annulus of the mitral valve. This reinforcement can be done with an annuloplasty ring.
MiCardia has developed an array of advanced annuloplasty devices which may be adjusted intra-operatively or post-operatively, dynamically after they are surgically placed in either the mitral valve annulus and/or tricuspid valve annulus position(s). To find out more about MiCardia Dynaplasty® Technology click here.
Mitral Valve Treatment — Valve Replacement
The most drastic of the mitral valve treatments is Mitral Valve replacement surgery. This surgery is often performed when a patient’s mitral valve disease is severe. When doctors opt for this treatment often the mitral valve is replaced with an artificial valve that is sewn to the annulus of the natural valve. There are two types of valves that can be used when having mitral valve replacement, a mechanical valve or a biological valve. A mechanical valve is made of synthetic materials are reliable and long-lasting. A biological valve is made from animal tissue or taken from the human tissue of a donated heart.
Note: This information is not a substitute for talking with your doctor.
