For Mitral Valve Surgery - da Vinci offers improved access, greater precision

When cardiothoracic surgeon Joseph Auteri, MD joined The Heart Institute of Doylestown Hospital as Director in 2007, he was one of only a few cardiovascular surgeons in the country experienced in the use of robotic technology for minimally invasive mitral valve repair. The mitral valve, which regulates the flow of blood into the heart's main pumping chamber, can lose its ability to open or close completely, forcing the heart to work harder. With the arrival of the da Vinci system at Doylestown Hospital, Dr. Auteri continues to be at the forefront of an elite group of surgeons nationwide performing this exacting cardiac procedure.

Mitral Valve Surgery:  Repair vs. Replacement

The best available surgical treatment for mitral valve prolapse is repair. Mitral valve repair offers a number of significant, life-long benefits as compared to valve replacement. These include a lower risk of mortality, a better chance of long-term survival and more freedom from reoperation:

Potential Benefits of Mitral Valve Repair

• Reduced risk of surgical complications
• Higher long-term survival
• Improves function and strength of the heart
• More freedom from re-operation
• No need for life-long blood thinner medication
• Shorter hospital stay

What is Mitral Valve Prolapse?
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 left ventricle - the heart's main pumping chamber. 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. If 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: valve repair and valve replacement. In valve replacement, your surgeon cuts out the damaged valve and replaces it with a new, artificial valve. Valve repair involves the surgeon reconstructing your valve using your own tissues.

The traditional way to repair a valve through surgery is with sternotomy - cutting through the breastbone and opening the ribs. Cutting through the body's natural protective structure for the heart can cause significant trauma, prolong healing time and increase your risk for serious complications and even mortality. Moreover, an open approach doesn't always provide the visualization and access necessary to complete a repair. In fact, the majority of patients who undergo sternotomy receive an artificial valve.

A new category of minimally invasive surgery, utilizing the robotic assistance of the da Vinci(r) Surgical System, is rewriting the book on mitral valve prolapse surgery.

During surgery with the da Vinci system, the surgeon makes a small incision under the patient's right armpit to access and repair the mitral valve. The da Vinci system's 3D vision system, flexible instrumentation, and - most importantly - the experience and skill of the surgeon result in outstanding surgical precision. "For appropriate patients, this is an excellent surgical option," states Dr. Auteri. "It means less blood loss, less post-operative pain, a faster recovery, along with the benefits that derive from a repaired mitral valve."



For additional information on minimally invasive surgery with the da Vinci(r) Surgical System visit http://davincisurgery.com.