Q
: 1
08/06/2009 |
Can you have a mitral valve replacement using minimally invasive techniques or do you have to have open heart surgery?
Yes, it is possible to both repair AND replace your mitral valve minimally invasively. Dr. Gammie specializes in both mitral valve repair surgery and minimally invasive mitral valve surgery. I would be more than happy to answer any other questions that you may have regarding your mitral valve. My name is Mary- I'm Dr. Gammie's physician assistant. I can be reached at 410-328-5842.
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Q
: 2
08/03/2009 |
I have a mitral valve lapse. Sometimes I can feel it when it begins to regurgitate. How do I know if it needs to get repaired?
An echocardiogram will quantify the amount of mitral valve leakage/regurgitation (mild, moderate, severe). Surgery is only indicated for those who have a severe amount of leakage of their mitral valve (severe mitral valve regurgitation). If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. My name is Mary- I'm Dr. Gammie's physician assistant. I can be reached at 410-328-5842.
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Q
: 3
07/29/2009 |
How long is the hospital stay for patients who have had mitral valve repair?
The length of hospital stay following mitral valve repair depends on several factors, including your age, medical comorbidities, and presence or absence of complications following surgery. The average length of stay (assuming no complications) is about 4 days.
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Q
: 4
07/22/2009 |
What is the area of the mitral valve in square centimeters for people who have healthy hearts?
The ranges for the area of the mitral valve are as follows: Normal- 4-5 sq cm. Mild Mitral stenosis- 1.5-2 sq cm. Moderate Mitral stenosis- 1-1.5 sq cm. Severe Mitral stenosis- less than 1.0 sq cm.
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Q
: 5
06/14/2009 |
At the end of June I will undergo surgery because of a mitral prolapse. If the valve cannot be repaired, very soon I need to tell the surgeon the type of replacement valve that I want.
What criteria can I use to help me in this decision? I have no symptoms, but the valve has severe regurgitation, my left atrium is severely enlarged, and my left ventricle is enlarged. In two months I will be 60 years old. I am in good health, a bit overweight. I do not practice sports, besides walking about a total of 3 hours a week. I am disciplined with my medications.
My first decision has to be between mechanical or biological.
A tissue valve replacement lasts approximately 10-15 years and does not require the need to take Coumadin (blood thinning medication) and a mechanical valve lasts your lifetime and will not require for you to have another surgery but you will need to take Coumadin for the rest of your life. These are the pros and cons of both types of valves. If you choose the tissue valve you will most likely require another operation in your lifetime. This does not mean that this is not a good option but just something to consider. Stacy Walsh, Nurse Practitioner, Cardiac Surgery
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Q
: 6
06/02/2009 |
I have very symtomatic symptoms from mitral valve regurgitation and I am wondering if I should have the repair done even if my cardiologist doesn't believe so?
It depends on the degree of mitral regurgitation that has been determined by a Transthoracic Echocardiogram and by a Transesophageal Echocardiogram whether or not mitral valve surgery would be recommended. If the degree of mitral regurgitation is moderate or severe than you should consider being evaluated by a cardiac surgeon to determine if surgery would be appropriate. Dr. Gammie specializes in Mitral Valve Repair and Replacement and if the mitral valve is repairable it is always a better option to have it repaired if it can be than to have it replaced. Please feel free to contact us at: 410-328-5842. Stacy Walsh, Cardiac Surgery Nurse Practitioner
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Q
: 7
05/31/2009 |
Are patients that undergo mitral valve repair put on a heart/lung bypass machine? Do you have to stop the heart in order to work on it?
Yes, Patients that undergo mitral valve repair or replacement are placed on a heart/lung bypass machine and the heart is stopped for a specific period of time but not for the whole operation. Stacy Walsh, Nurse Practitioner, Cardiac Surgery
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Q
: 8
04/26/2009 |
I was told I have a leak on the left side of my heart. However, I am not having chest pains or shortness of breath, so my doctor told me that he would do another Echocardiogram in a year. Is this the standard treatment for this problem?
It is normal to have repeat Echocardiograms yearly if the degree of regurgitation (leaking) is a small amount and if you are not having symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, etc. Make sure if you begin to develop any symptoms that you contact your Doctor so he can determine if an Echocardiogram is warranted sooner.
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Q
: 9
03/14/2009 |
If you have mitral valve repair how long do you have to stay in the hospital? Can you climb stairs immediately after going home?
The average length of stay in the hospital is about 4 days (assuming no complications). Yes, you should be able to climb stairs immediately after returning home (assuming you were climbing stairs before surgery!). Have you been diagnosed with severe mitral valve disease? Is your doctor recommending surgery for you? I would be more than happy to help guide you through the process of being evaluated for the (minimally invasive) mitral valve repair surgery that Dr. Gammie performs here at the University of Maryland Medical Center. My name is Mary- I'm Dr. Gammie's physician assistant. Please do not hesitate to call me. I can be reached at 410-328-5842.
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Q
: 10
12/05/2008 |
Im still a teenager and was wondering what the chances are of my minor leaking valve to get worse? Is there any way of preventing this from happening?
I assume you're speaking of your mitral valve? The likelihood is low that your mitral valve leakage/regurgitation will progress to a serious (SEVERE) degree. Surgery is only indicated in those with SEVERE mitral valve regurgitation. However, you should follow up with your cardiologist to monitor your mitral valve leakage with an echocardiogram(s). The great majority of those with mitral valve regurgitation (even those with up to MODERATE mitral valve regurgitation) will never require surgery in their lifetime. There is really no way to prevent your mitral valve regurgiation from progressing. If you start to develop symptoms of shortness of breath, increased fatigue, heart palpitations, or chest pain contact your cardiologist for evaluation.
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Q
: 11
07/17/2008 |
When is the right time to have a mitral valve repair performed?
There are many things to take into consideration when answering your question. Do you have mitral valve stenosis or regurgitation? How severe is the disease of your valve? Have you had a recent echo performed (within the past year)? Surgery is usually indicated when you have SEVERE disease of your mitral valve. I would be more than happy to discuss this with you in more detail. My name is Mary- I'm Dr. Gammie's physician assistant. I can be reached at 410-328-5842 or by email at msantos@smail.umaryland.edu
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Q
: 12
07/16/2008 |
I have mitral valve replacement 15 years ago. I always had to pre-medicate for the dentist Now they say that is no longer necessary is this true?
The American Heart Association recently changed their guidelines for preventive antibiotics prior to dental work. They now only recommend antibiotics for those with artificial heart valves (like yourself), a history of infective endocarditis, certain forms of congenital heart disease, and cardiac valve abnormalities following a heart transplant. Ultimately, it will be up to your cardiologist to make this determination though.
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Q
: 13
03/15/2008 |
I need to have heart surgery to repair my mitral valve. I am scheduled to have the surgery done robotically in April. I have had several doctors tell me that if it was them or their wives, they would have it done the "old fashioned" way--cracked open. I know the benefits to minimally invasive surgery, what are the benefits going "old fashioned"?
In general, the advantages of "old fashioned" (sternotomy)mitral valve surgery include less time on the heart-lung machine and accessibility to your mitral valve if it is a difficult repair/replacement. However, in Dr. Gammie's hands here at the University of Maryland Medical Center, minimally invasive surgery is only a little bit longer on the heart-lung machine and he is very comfortable with the accessibility of the valve- even with most difficult cases. On the other hand, the benefits of having minimally invasive surgery include quicker recovery time, less infections, and less bleeding (to name a few). I would be more than happy to discuss this with you in more detail. My name is Mary- I'm Dr. Gammie's physician assistant. I can be reached at 410-328-5842. Please do not hesitate to contact me.
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Q
: 14
02/14/2008 |
I was very recently told after having an echocardiogram that I have developed acute mitral valve regurgitation. I'm 43 years old and in otherwise good health. I have noticed in the recent months to have fatigue, mild shortness of breath at times and a very rapid heart rate. I was informed it did not appear to have weakened the heart as of yet, but that the leakage was "moderate". Do you think I may be a candidate for surgery? Do patients generally wait until the condition shows more heart damage or weakening before having surgery?
Surgery is only indicated for those with "severe" leakage of their mitral valve. Has your "very rapid heart rate" been worked up with an EKG, holter monitor, stress test, etc? Patients who have mitral valve regurgitation commonly have a condition called atrial fibrillation which is an irregular heart beat that can sometimes be quite rapid. You should continue to be followed by your cardiologist with routine echos every 6-12 months, unless your symptoms of shortness of breath or fatigue worsen. You should definitely try to have surgery before your heart enlarges or weakens. However surgery is only indicated in "severe mitral valve regurgitation", not "moderate". When was your most recent echocardiogram performed? Within the past year? If you have further questions, do not hesitate to email me. My name is Mary- I'm Dr. Gammie's physician assistant. I can be reached at msantos@smail.umaryland.edu.
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Q
: 15
01/17/2008 |
Who is the best doctor known for a mitral valve repair? Any recommendations?
Unlike the great majority of cardiac surgery programs in the nation, University of Maryland Medical Center's heart surgeons super-specialize in different areas of heart surgery. Dr. James Gammie here at the University of Maryland Medical Center super-specializes in mitral valve (repair) surgery. As a result, he is able to perform close to 200 mitral valve operations yearly (when the average heart surgeon in the nation performs about 20 yearly). Because he performs such a high volume of mitral valve operations, his mitral valve repair rate exceeds 90%. Many people come from across the US to have their mitral valve surgery performed by him as a result. If you are interested in more information, I would be more than happy to discuss this with you. My name is Mary- I'm Dr. Gammie's physician assistant. I can be reached at 410-328-5842.
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