Mitral Valve – Repair or Replace

Hi, @777darla -- I'd like to welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect. Sorry to hear you are feeling afraid right now. Hoping some of our members here will have some thoughts for you that will be comforting as you face this upcoming mitral valve repair or replacement.

Here is some information about mitral valve repair from Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/annuloplasty/gnc-20302476

If you'd like to read about Mayo Clinic’s approach to this repair, this may be helpful: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/mitral-valve-repair-mitral-valve-replacement/details/mayo-clinic-approach/orc-20301779

Also, on Mayo Clinic Connect, here are some discussions on mitral valve prolapse and repair you may want to look at and participate in:

– Mitral Valve & Tricuspid valve regurgitation: when to see a cardiologist? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-was-just-diagnosised-with-mitral-valve-and-tricuspid-insufficiency-i-have/

– Mitral valve prolapse/regurgitation https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mitroh-valve-prolapse-regergitation/

– Mitral valve repair https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-just-joined-the-mayo-clinic-connect-and-want-to-say-hello-i/

I'd also like you to meet some members who have discussed mitral valve issues: @valvejob2018 @topaz @mikkeleo @jannyw @sdann777 @lamborama @yoanne @petersen73 grandmajan @frande. I'd also like you to meet @predictable @vdouglas and @hopeful33250.

If you feel comfortable, will you share with us more of your story leading up to the recommendation you have a repair/replacement, @777darla?

I have a small mitral valve leak as per my Cardiologist which he says does not need surgery/replacement. I am concerned as to whether I should get a second opinion

It never hurts to get a second opinion, but I have had two mitral valve sugeries. One to repair my mitral valve and the other to replace my valve. My Dr. never told me I had to have the surgeries until the leak was severe. I would not worry about it at this time. Hope this helps.

@777darla, I know it is scary to be told you have to have heart sugery, I went though it twice. Don't know which one scared me most. Saying that, it was not as bad as I thought it would be. I had both done at Mayo in Rochester Minnesota and I felt I was in great hands both times. First fews days are the worst, but even then I was aways given somthing to help with the pain. Not something I would want to do again, but know it is something being done many times each day in all the hospitals and the rate of success is remarkable. Be assured you will be in great hands. Take care.

I haven't been told I need heart surgery... I just want answers to my questions and so far this group has anwered more than the drs... Thank you all!!

All the heart drs here are in the same group and this is my 2nd cardiologist as the 1st one was lets just say not my cup of tea!

thanks for writeing frande i totally trust my dr hes the best in arizona my fears are being on heart and lung machine bloodclots dureing and after and the intense pain after and bad outcome because i havent been able to stop smokeing my daughter will come to town for two weeks then im alone to deal with it all and i heard you cant do much after and another fear is all the complications that i can get after ive put it off for several months because of fear and i know it will only get alot worse if i dont do it soon thanks again

thank you i had a heart attack in 2013 the kind most dont live threw i was told the widow maker got 1 stent last year got 2 more stents got a blood clot in lung last year because of a dissorder i have then had test dont last august that showed my mitral valve is severely leaking and was told i need surgery im hopeing to force myself to get the surgery in march after my grandsons born my fear is so extreme made worse by haveing an anxiety dissorder so i think it would really help to hear what others went threw with surgery thank you

Hello @juliet02,

Here’s some information from Mayo Clinic about leaky heart valves that you may also wish to view:
– http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/mitral-valve-repair-mitral-valve-replacement/home/ovc-20301738

And another great discussion on Connect
– Mitral Valve & Tricuspid valve regurgitation: when to see a cardiologist? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-was-just-diagnosised-with-mitral-valve-and-tricuspid-insufficiency-i-have/

@juliet02, could you share a few more details about your health? What are you most concerned about with regard to getting a second opinion?

I'd like to invite you to join us today, Tuesday, December 4th at 12 p.m. CT for a video Q&A with Dr. Joseph Dearani, Chair, Cardiovascular Surgery, and Dr. Juan Crestanello, cardiovascular surgeon, about heart valve disease and surgical options.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/webinar/video-qa-about-heart-valve-disease-and-surgical-options/

Dr. Dearani and Dr. Crestanello will answer questions live. Post your question before and during the broadcast. You can participate in the Video Q&A on Connect by returning to the above page; the video will be shown at the top of the page.