Mitral Valve Repair Surgery

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital now offers minimally invasive mitral valve repair surgery using the state-of-the-art da Vinci surgical robot. An alternative to open surgery - the traditional way to treat mitral valve disease - this new approach enables the surgeon to operate with unparalleled precision and control through a few small incisions.

Understanding the Benefits

In addition to avoiding the pain and trauma of sternotomy and rib spreading, robotic mitral valve repair may provide patients with the following benefits over open surgery:

• Less risk of infection
• Less blood loss and need for blood transfusions
• Shorter hospital stay
• Significantly less pain and scarring
• Faster recovery
• Quicker return to normal activities
• And a potentially better clinical outcome

Am I a Candidate for Robotic Mitral Valve Surgery?

Please note that not all patients are candidates for robotic surgery. Your surgeon will provide you with the most appropriate treatment option after thoroughly assessing your condition.

What Is the Mitral Valve?

The mitral valve controls blood flow through the left side of the heart. When it opens, the mitral valve allows blood to flow into the left ventricle, the heart’s main pumping chamber. When the left ventricle contracts, the mitral valve closes in order to prevent blood from flowing back toward the lungs. Sometimes the mitral valve is abnormal from birth. It can also become damaged by infection, with age or from heart disease.

What Is Mitral Valve Prolapse?

If the mitral valve leaflets cannot tightly seal the left ventricle, this is called prolapse. With mitral valve prolapse, some blood flows back into the atrium – a condition called regurgitation. Regurgitation can make the heart work harder, leading to further valve damage and increasing the risk of heart failure.