Mitral Valve Prolapse and Treatment
The mitral valve controls blood flow through the left side of the heart. When it opens, the mitral valve allows blood to flow into the heart’s main pumping chamber, the left ventricle. When the left ventricle contracts, the mitral valve closes in order to prevent blood from flowing back toward the lungs.

Sometimes the mitral valve is abnormal from birth. It can also become damaged by infection, with age or from heart disease. I f the mitral valve leaflets cannot tightly seal the left ventricle, this is called prolapse. With mitral valve prolapse, some blood flows back into the atrium, a condition called regurgitation. Regurgitation can make the heart work harder, leading to further valve damage and increasing the risk of heart failure.

Mitral Valve Prolapse Treatment Options
The treatment options available to a person with mitral valve prolapse depend on the severity of the condition. Some patients may not require any intervention. Others may be prescribed medications.

However, if your symptoms become severe, your doctor may recommend mitral valve prolapse surgery. There are two basic types of valve prolapse surgery: mitral valve repair and mitral valve replacement. Valve repair involves the surgeon reconstructing your valve using your own tissues. In valve replacement, your surgeon removes the damaged valve and replaces it with a new, artificial valve.

A new category of minimally invasive surgery, the da Vinci Mitral Valve Repair, utilizes the da Vinci Surgical System, to perform the complex sugery through small incisions with unmatched precision and control.

Learn more:
> da Vinci urologic surgery (including treatment for prostate cancer )
> da Vinci gynocelogic surgery  (including hysterectomy)
> da Vinci cardiothoracic surgery (including mitral valve repair)
> The da Vinci Surgical System at daVinciSurgery.com

While clinical studies support the effectiveness of the da Vinci System when used in minimally invasive surgery, individual results may vary. Surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.