Is open heart surgery the best way to repair the Mitral Valve

https://myheart.net/articles/mitral-valve-repair-surgery-what-you-need-to-know/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/heart-valve-surgery/about/pac-20384901
It seems it depends on the patient and on the repair. Some procedures are 'minimally invasive', while others are full open heart, and usually include bypass because the heart would normally be stopped so that there are no oopsies when using needles or scalpels.

I had minimally invasive surgery for a mitral valve repair. ....minimally invasive means that they go between the ribs instead of a sternotomy; they still have to cut into the heart. This also required bypass, but maybe that is what you were saying - wording sounded like only full open heart required bypass. I don't see how they could open the heart up without putting you on bypass.

The minimally invasive is not open heart, which is the whole idea...not to have to bust up the sternum, and as you know, it involves slipping between the ribs. Bypass is required in all cases of valve repair, but excluding the TAVR for aortic valve, because it's so difficult to place implements and the repair materials in powerful blood flow of a beating heart.

My surgeon said that non-invasive surgery for my mitral valve would only be a temporary fix. He says my mitral valve is severely leaking. If he did open heart surgery, they would replace the mitral valve and fix my A-fib. I really don’t want to have another by-pass surgery. I had one 18 years ago. But I also want my Mitral valve replaced or repaired more effectively as well as fixing my A-fib. So I’m trying to weigh my options.

jaybird, do I have it correctly that you had a coronary bypass due to blocked artery, or were you on bypass for lungs and blood during open-heart surgery? I'm not clear on that. We're talking about being put on a heart and lung machine while they stop your heart so that they can do their work. When you're all set, sewn up, they paddle you and take you off of the machine, I believe over a minute or three...not sure. So, while they have your heart opened up, and your chest, you are on a 'bypass' machine.

It depends on your unique heart and tests as to what you need.
Sometimes they don't know exactly what you need until they get in there. Reason why so important you trust heart/vascular team and they know what you prefer if they can't do what they thought. I had my mitral valve replaced 35 years ago, with a st Jude's valve. My surgeon, Dr Rudy, thought he could repair my valve, after 3 attempts, it still leaked. He knew what i would want if that did not work because we had talked. Coumadin for life for me but at 27 and being very active it was the best choice. I ended up being pregnant 3 years later and by God' grace and many helpful health practitioners delivered a daughter, who has 3 children. I am now 62.

If you checked out the links that gloaming included above, I think it says something about how not all surgeons are comfortable doing a repair and just go for replacement. So check on the experience of your surgeon. The surgeon that did my repair is the most experienced in the region - I live in southern Oregon. ..and I was happy that he had that experience.

All the best to you!

If you live near and can travel to Raleigh, NC, contact this office to send your test results, especially the latest echo, to the great cardiac surgeon, Dr. Byron Boulton; set up a consultation visit, perhaps by phone. He is director of the WakeMed Structural Heart Program at WakeMed in Raleigh, NC. Phone (919) 231-6333. I had a serious regurgitation problem. He repaired my mitral valve, did an LAAC, and did ablation to cure my AFIB. That was over two years and 10 months ago. I am as fine as wine, off all meds too. I am a going on 81-year-old male, just a kid. Doctor Boulton will sort out the best appproach for you.
Regards,
Sagan

I had a repair 4 years ago and honestly, it was easier than I expected and soooo much easier than my shoulder surgery. I was in intensive care for 5 days, came home to an empty house (I live alone) and did just find. There is ache and soreness but no real pain, just as my surgeon promised. I was 74 at the time. Good luck and don't be a-scared (as we used to say as kids) Ha!

I had open heart surgery to repair a leaky mitral valve with severe regurgitation in 2019. I was in the hospital for two weeks following surgery. It was challenging, but not as bad or nearly as painful as knee surgery I had when I was much younger.
I have read that because of the positioning of the mitral valve, the open heart technique is better/preferable.
I didn't have any help at home. Friends took me grocery shopping or picked up stuff and I was still caregiver to my husband with Alzheimer's Disease while I recovered.
I'm glad I had the surgery before I went into Congestive Heart Failure as my mom died from that. She had mitral valve stenois, but it was inoperable.