Mitral Valve Prolapse Repair

The mitral valve is the "inflow valve" for the left side of the heart. Blood flows from the lungs, where it picks up oxygen, enters the left atrium and then passes through the mitral valve. When it opens, the mitral valve allows blood to flow into the heart's main pumping chamber, called the left ventricle. It then closes to prevent blood from leaking back into the left atrium when the ventricle contracts to push blood out to the body.

Occasionally, the mitral valve is abnormal from birth. More often, the mitral valve becomes abnormal with age. It may also occur as a result of coronary artery disease.

Using advanced surgical technology, our expert physicians can perform this procedure less invasively than traditional methods. Most heart operations are performed with an incision made through the sternum or breastbone. But surgeons at Presbyterian are able to treat some patients by using small incisions on the side of the chest to reach the heart between the patient's ribs.