Mitral Valve Repair
What is Mitral Valve Repair?
Mitral valve repair is a cardiac surgery to fix a dysfunctional mitral valve, which separates the left atrium and left ventricle, ensuring proper blood flow direction. It’s preferred over replacement for certain mitral valve conditions, as it preserves the patient’s own valve and reduces long-term complications. In India, mitral valve repair is performed in specialized cardiac surgery departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for patients.
Why do you need Mitral Valve Repair?
Mitral valve repair is indicated for:
- Mitral valve dysfunction:
- Mitral regurgitation (MR): Valve doesn’t close properly, causing backflow (60–70% of cases); often due to prolapse or rheumatic heart disease (RHD).
- Mitral stenosis (MS): Valve narrows, restricting flow (20–30%); common in RHD, especially in India.
- Symptoms: Fatigue, shortness of breath, palpitations, heart failure if untreated.
- Prevalence in India: RHD affects 1–2 per 1,000; 20–30% develop mitral valve issues (2023 data).
- Other indications:
- Failed medical management: Diuretics, beta-blockers (e.g., 6–12 months without symptom control).
- Asymptomatic severe MR: To prevent irreversible heart damage (e.g., left ventricular dysfunction).
- Types:
- Open repair: Via sternotomy (most common, 70–80% of cases).
- Minimally invasive: Via small incision (e.g., right thoracotomy, 20–30%).
- Techniques: Annuloplasty (ring to support valve), leaflet repair (e.g., resection, chordae replacement).
- Associated treatments:
- Pre-op: Echocardiogram to assess valve function, diuretics to manage fluid overload.
- Post-op: Anticoagulation (e.g., warfarin, 3 months if annuloplasty ring used), cardiac rehab.
- Timing:
- Performed in adults (average age 30–70 years); elective for chronic MR/MS; urgent for acute MR (e.g., chordae rupture).
The procedure aims to restore normal valve function, improve symptoms, and prevent heart failure, with high success rates when performed by experienced surgeons.
Why Do Mitral Valve Repair Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹3 lakh to ₹8 lakh :
- Procedure Type: Open repair (₹3–6 lakh); minimally invasive (₹5–8 lakh, specialized equipment).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in private hospitals (Apollo, Fortis: ₹5–8 lakh); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS: ₹1–3 lakh, often subsidized under Ayushman Bharat).
- Additional Costs: Annuloplasty ring (₹50,000–₹1 lakh), hospital stay (₹5,000–₹15,000/day), pre-op tests (₹20,000–₹50,000), medications (₹10,000–₹30,000).
- Insurance: Often covered (medical necessity); confirm with your provider.
Mitral Valve Repair Procedure
- Before Procedure Evaluation:
- Assessment:
- Echocardiogram: Transesophageal echo (TEE) to assess valve anatomy, regurgitation/stenosis severity (e.g., MR grade 3–4).
- Cardiac catheterization: Rules out coronary artery disease .
- Blood tests: Clotting profile, kidney function, infection screening.
- Preparation: Stop blood thinners (if safe), fasting 6–8 hours, optimize heart failure symptoms.
- Consent: Risks, including conversion to replacement, are explained.
- Assessment:
- Procedure Technique:
- Open Mitral Valve Repair:
- Performed under general anesthesia, lasting 3–5 hours.
- Process:
- Incision: Median sternotomy (15–20 cm) to access heart.
- Cardiopulmonary bypass: Heart-lung machine used; heart stopped with cardioplegia.
- Valve repair: Left atrium opened; valve inspected; techniques include:
- Annuloplasty: Ring (e.g., Carpentier-Edwards) sewn around valve to tighten annulus.
- Leaflet repair: Resect prolapsing segment or replace chordae with artificial ones (e.g., Gore-Tex).
- Testing: Valve function checked with saline; TEE confirms no residual leak.
- Closure: Heart restarted; chest closed with sternal wires; drains placed (removed in 2–3 days).
- Minimally Invasive:
- Smaller incision (5–8 cm, right chest); similar repair techniques; less pain, faster recovery.
- Intraoperative Tools:
- TEE: Guides repair, confirms result.
- Heart-lung machine: Maintains circulation.
- Sternal saw: For sternotomy.
- Open Mitral Valve Repair:
- After Procedure:
- Hospital stay: 5–10 days.
- Care: ICU monitoring (1–2 days), monitor heart rhythm, start anticoagulation if needed.
- Pain management: Moderate pain for 3–5 days (sternotomy); managed with painkillers (e.g., tramadol).
- Instructions: Avoid heavy lifting for 6–8 weeks; start cardiac rehab at 2–4 weeks; monitor for fever or chest pain.
Recovery After Mitral Valve Repair
- Hospital Stay: 5–10 days.
- Post-Procedure Care:
- Pain: Moderate for 3–5 days (sternotomy); resolves in 2–3 weeks; less with minimally invasive (1–2 weeks).
- Activity: Avoid strenuous activity for 6–8 weeks; light walking encouraged (day 2–3) to prevent clots .
- Heart function: Symptoms (e.g., shortness of breath) improve in 2–4 weeks; ejection fraction improves in 1–3 months.
- Medications: Anticoagulation (warfarin, 3 months if ring used; INR 2–3), beta-blockers for heart rate control.
- Follow-Up:
- Visits at 1 week (check wounds), 1 month, and every 3–6 months (monitor valve function).
- Echocardiogram: At 1–3 months; 90–95% freedom from reoperation at 5 years (repair success).
Most resume normal activities in 4–6 weeks; full recovery takes 2–3 months (open) or 1–2 months (minimally invasive). Success rate: 90–95% freedom from significant MR at 5 years; 85–90% symptom improvement; 5–10% need reoperation at 10 years.
Risks and Complications
- Procedure Risks:
- Bleeding (3–5%): During surgery; may need transfusion.
- Infection (1–3%): Sternal wound or endocarditis; treated with antibiotics.
- Arrhythmias (10–20%): Atrial fibrillation; managed with medications (e.g., amiodarone).
- Post-Procedure:
- Stroke (1–2%): From emboli during surgery; higher risk if pre-existing clots (links to your embolectomy query).
- Valve failure (2–5%): Residual leak or stenosis; may need reoperation or replacement.
- Heart block (<1%): May need pacemaker (links to your pacemaker query).
- Long-Term:
- Recurrence (5–10% at 10 years): MR may return, especially in degenerative disease; needs monitoring.
- Heart failure (5–10%): If pre-existing damage; managed with medications.
Report fever, chest pain, shortness of breath, or irregular heartbeat promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes the need for mitral valve repair?
Mitral regurgitation (e.g., prolapse, RHD) or stenosis (e.g., RHD), leading to heart failure symptoms.
Can I avoid mitral valve repair?
Yes, if mild: Medical management (e.g., diuretics); surgery needed for severe MR/MS or worsening symptoms.
Is mitral valve repair painful?
Moderate pain for 3–5 days (open); less with minimally invasive; resolves in 1–3 weeks.
How soon can I resume normal activities?
Light activities: 2–3 weeks; full recovery: 2–3 months (open) or 1–2 months (minimally invasive).
Is mitral valve repair covered by insurance in India?
Often covered (medical necessity); confirm with your provider; Ayushman Bharat often subsidizes.
Signs of complications?
Fever, chest pain, shortness of breath, or irregular heartbeat.
How long does mitral valve repair last?
90–95% freedom from reoperation at 5 years; 5–10% need reoperation at 10 years.
Lifestyle changes post-surgery?
Take medications (e.g., anticoagulation if needed), follow a heart-healthy diet, exercise moderately, and attend regular follow-ups.
Conclusion
Mitral valve repair is an effective procedure for correcting mitral valve dysfunction, offering better outcomes than replacement by preserving the native valve. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) provide affordable care, often covered by insurance. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach treatment confidently. Consult a cardiac surgeon for personalized guidance.
Looking for Best Hospitals for Mitral Valve Repair
Note: we are not promoting any hospitals
we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
2,00,000 |
5,00,000 |
Ahmedabad |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Ajmer |
2,00,000 |
5,00,000 |
Aligarh |
2,00,000 |
5,00,000 |
Allahabad |
2,00,000 |
5,00,000 |
Amritsar |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Aurangabad |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Bangalore |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Bareilly |
2,00,000 |
5,00,000 |
Belgaum |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Bhopal |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Bikaner |
2,00,000 |
5,00,000 |
Chandigarh |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Chennai |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Coimbatore |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Dehradun |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Delhi |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Dhanbad |
2,00,000 |
5,00,000 |
Durgapur |
2,00,000 |
5,00,000 |
Faridabad |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Ghaziabad |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Gorakhpur |
2,00,000 |
5,00,000 |
Guntur |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Gurgaon |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Guwahati |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Gwalior |
2,00,000 |
5,00,000 |
Hyderabad |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Indore |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Jabalpur |
2,00,000 |
5,00,000 |
Jaipur |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Jalandhar |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Jamshedpur |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Jodhpur |
2,00,000 |
5,00,000 |
Kanpur |
2,00,000 |
5,00,000 |
Kochi |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Kolkata |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Kollam |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Lucknow |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Ludhiana |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Madurai |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Mangalore |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Meerut |
2,00,000 |
5,00,000 |
Moradabad |
2,00,000 |
5,00,000 |
Mumbai |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Mysore |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Nagpur |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Nashik |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Noida |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Patna |
2,00,000 |
5,00,000 |
Pune |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Raipur |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Rajkot |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Ranchi |
2,00,000 |
5,00,000 |
Surat |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Thane |
2,50,000 |
5,50,000 |
Vadodara |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Varanasi |
2,00,000 |
5,00,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
2,25,000 |
5,25,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.