Mitral Prolapse Treatment

Mitral prolapse is a pathology of the mitral valve, which doesn't allow complete valve closure during the heart contraction. As a result of mitral valve malfunction, a person faces serious health problems. At the early stages of damage, the condition can sometimes be stabilized by medications, but the more advanced the situation is, the more likely the patient will need to undergo mitral valve correction surgery.

What is the treatment strategy for mitral prolapse?

Before receiving treatment, patients undergo thorough examination. With mild forms of prolapse, with minor regurgitation, and without pronounced symptoms, treatment of the disease may not be necessary. In such cases, people with mitral prolapse should lead a healthy lifestyle, avoid excessive physical activity, and visit a cardiologist for the examination every 6-12 months.

For people with mitral valve prolapse with significant regurgitation, drug treatment is used. It is also prescribed when symptoms of the disease appear. The patient receives drugs for normalization of heart rhythm and blood pressure, elimination of the symptoms of the disease, and reducing the risk of irreversible consequences.

In some cases, surgical treatment may be required. Indications for surgery are severe chordal distension or rupture, development of complications, or high-risk patient group. Usually, mitral valve replacement is recommended in the most complicated cases.

Currently, the most common treatment option is mitral valve repair. This type of surgical treatment of the valve prolapse is characterized by low operative lethality and good long-term prognosis.

Shift in the treatment paradigm

Previously, the surgical treatment for the mitral valve prolapse included only mitral valve replacement. Mitral valve replacement surgery was complicated and risky. Therefore, specialists did not decide to replace the heart valve until critical heart problems have arisen. Luckily, in recent years technology has improved considerably, and now the surgical intervention is carried out using minimally invasive methods. The patient can also choose between a mechanical and a biological valve prosthesis.

The gradual change in the medical practice is also reflected in the indications for mitral valve surgery, and the type of surgery chosen. Many specialists are now supporting reconstructive surgery – an intervention that doesn't require the valve to be removed. And with this approach, instead of a "last-minute" procedure, surgeries are increasingly being performed immediately after the pathology detection. This is due to significant technological advances in cardiac surgery that allow performing the surgical correction of the valves.

How is surgical mitral prolapse treatment carried out?

Before surgery, physicians decide on the method of surgical intervention and the surgical access. Their goal is not only to repair the valve but also to do it in the least traumatic way.

After general anesthesia is administered, the surgeon makes tiny incisions on the right side of the chest between the ribs, through which the necessary surgical instruments and a camera with a light source are inserted. The video camera helps surgeons and anesthesiologists follow the stages of surgery by viewing images on the monitor.

After the mitral valve is reached, the surgeon repairs its part that interferes with function here (for example, shortening, stitching, or removing excess tissue in the flaps). Comprehensive mitral valve repair surgery usually takes from 3 to 6 hours.

Treatment of mitral prolapse during a lockdown

Information about the lockdown restrictions and traveling to different countries is constantly changing. Therefore, it is better to contact a specialist in organizing treatment abroad before deciding to travel.

You can trust Booking Health with this information. Moreover, Booking Health will help you organize every aspect of the trip and treatment, starting from helping you to get a visa to booking the flight tickets and accommodation.

Mitral valve prolapse can be fraught with complications, therefore, it’s better for people with the diagnosis not to postpone mitral prolapse treatment. For more information about the treatment abroad during a lockdown, visit the Booking Health website by clicking here.