Mitral Valve Disease

Actual incision for Mitral Valve repair

Mitral valve heart disease is common in patients as they age and is associated with coronary artery disease and other conditions. In many patients this condition is silent until they develop a major adverse cardiac event such as heart failure, stroke, or death. Commonly, these patients were referred to a surgeon only when the mitral valve leak was severe. There are many reasons for this and some relate to the desire to avoid of major surgery. Unfortunately, many of these patients develop major adverse events before they ever see a surgeon for repair. The latest medical research shows that when even when a moderate leak is present surgical intervention leads to better outcomes and longer life. Fortunately, surgeons have developed a procedure which allows for surgical repair of the mitral valve without the bone cutting incisions of the past. Mitral valve repair is an operation which relies on more than 20 years of accumulated experience and the techniques are well established. The remarkable thing about robotic mitral valve repair is that it applies the time tested classical techniques used by reputable surgeons around the world through tiny incisions without cutting any bones. Our patients include young and old people, simple and complex repairs, first time operations, and patients who have had up to three previous operations. These are educated people who seek out all the options in heart care and select the best. Some patients are able to go home the next day, or are back to work in one or two weeks. If you need mitral valve surgery make sure to hear all the options from the only surgeon performing robotic mitral valve repair in Wisconsin.