Treatment

Treatment of congenital mitral valve anomalies depends on your signs and symptoms and how severe your condition is. Your doctor may monitor your condition with regular checkups.

You may eventually need surgery to repair or replace the mitral valve.

Mitral valve repair

Your doctor may recommend mitral valve repair when possible, as it saves your heart valve. Surgeons may do one or more of the following during mitral valve repair:

• Patch holes in a valve
• Reconnect valve flaps
• Separate valve flaps that have fused
• Separate, remove or reshape muscle near the valve
• Separate, shorten, lengthen or replace the cords that support the valve
• Remove excess valve tissue so that the leaflets can close tightly
• Tighten or reinforce the ring around a valve (annulus) using an artificial ring

Mitral valve replacement

If the mitral valve can't be repaired, your doctor may recommend mitral valve replacement. In mitral valve replacement, your surgeon removes the damaged valve and replaces it with a mechanical valve or a valve made from cow, pig or human heart tissue (biological tissue valve).

Biological tissue valves wear down over time and eventually need to be replaced. If you have a mechanical valve, you'll need to take blood-thinning medications for life to prevent blood clots. Your doctor will discuss with you the benefits and risks of each type of valve and discuss which valve may be appropriate for you.

Biological tissue valves and mechanical valves may be used in children and adults. The specific valve used is chosen by the cardiologist, surgeon and family after evaluating the risks and benefits.

Follow-up care

Children and adults who have had surgery for congenital mitral valve anomalies or who have congenital mitral valve anomalies will need lifelong care provided by doctors trained in congenital heart conditions, such as pediatric and adult congenital cardiologists. Children and adults will need regular follow-up appointments to monitor for any changes in their condition. Sometime people need repeat valve repair or other surgeries to replace a valve that no longer works.