American Heart Association says Too many Patients receive Mitral Valve Replacement when Repair is Safer
November 18, 2019
Philadelphia, PA – While clinical guidelines recommend mitral valve repair over replacement, too many patients who would benefit from repair receive replacement valves, with higher rates of death or complications within five years after surgery.
In an effort to combat this, the Mitral Foundation and the American Heart Association® today launched a joint recognition program to identify, recognize and promote the nation’s recognized medical centers for mitral valve repair surgery.
The mitral valve is a valve that lets blood flow from one chamber of the heart, the left atrium, to another called the left ventricle. In mitral valve prolapse, part of the mitral valve slips backward loosely into the chamber called the left atrium. (American Heart Association)
