Strong Heart and Vascular Center

Division of Cardiac Surgery

Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery

As with other types of valve replacement surgery, mitral valves can be replaced with mechanical valves, tissue valves or homografts (valves from a human donor). Each option has its own benefits and drawbacks:

Mechanical Mitral Valves

Mechanical heart valves are the most durable and dependable option for mitral valve replacement. However, patients who receive mechanical valves are required to take blood thinning medication and have frequent blood tests.

Tissue Mitral Valves

Tissue valves are made out of biological tissue. This type of valve operates so similarly to the human heart valve that blood thinning medication is usually not required, but this type of valve typically needs to be replaced later on (usually within 15 years).

Mitral Homografts

As with other types of replacement valves, we can now replace mitral valves with donated human heart valves. The use of human valves often means less risk of infection and does not require the use of blood thinning medication, but is a more complex surgery than other valve repair or replacement procedures.

Our surgeons who perform mitral valve replacement surgery.

Contact Us

For more information or to schedule a consultation, please contact us at 585-275-5384.