Minimal Mitral Valve Repair and Replacement Available

Mercy Health – Cincinnati, which provides advanced, compassionate, quality care in your neighborhood through its care network, announces that Mercy Health Physician Mohi Mitiek, MD a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, offers patients minimal mitral valve repair and replacement.

Working together with cardiothoracic surgeon Manisha Patel, MD, he repaired the mitral valve of a patient using the minimal approach at Mercy Health – West Hospital earlier this summer in a first for Mercy Health – Cincinnati.

The mitral valve sits between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart. It keeps blood flowing through the heart. Sometimes, the valve becomes hardened, stopping blood flow. It can also become leaky, which causes blood to flow backward.

“If we can’t manage the patient’s condition with medication, we may have to intervene surgically,” says Dr. Mitiek.

Conditions that may require surgical intervention include new onset atrial fibrillation with mitral regurgitation, dilated left ventricle and atrium, shortness of breath, congestive heart failure due to mitral valve issues and pulmonary edema.

Surgeons typically repaired or replaced the mitral valve via open heart surgery but advances now allow for a minimally-invasive approach. Before surgery, a patient will have an echocardiogram and CT scan to confirm the possibility of the minimally-invasive approach.

“Instead of opening the chest and making a 15- to 20-centimeter incision, we go in between the ribs on the right side chest via a six centimeter incision to fix or replace the valve. Because the mitral valve sits in the back of the heart, it aligns perfectly with the incision in the side. It’s easier to see the mitral valve from there than from the top of the chest,” says Dr. Mitiek.

There are other advantages to the minimally-invasive approach, too.

“It’s a much smaller incision requiring less blood transfusion. Patients make a faster recovery, look better cosmetically and avoid the risk of sternotomy or cracking the sternum.”

The procedure lasts three to four hours and recovery takes four to five days. There are no lifting restrictions after surgery and Dr. Mitiek encourages patients to exercise afterward.

Currently, the procedure is available at Mercy Heath – Anderson and West Hospitals.

Dr. Mitiek practices from Mercy Health - Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons, Rookwood, located at 4030 Smith Road, Suite 300, Cincinnati, OH 45209. Call 513-421-3494 to schedule an appointment or for more information.