The patient pathway for mitral valve surgery

Abstract

Mitral valve disease can present as mitral regurgitation or mitral stenosis, causing the valve to leak or to narrow. In extreme cases the papillary muscle can rupture and the patient presents as an acute emergency. Patients with mitral disease will develop congestive heart failure and associated arrhythmias. The condition requires pharmacological intervention for symptom control and careful monitoring to assess when surgical intervention is indicated. Decisions regarding appropriate timing of surgical intervention should be made following discussion among the whole multidisciplinary team and patients should have the opportunity to learn about all their surgical options. Once a decision to operate (whether repair or replacement) has been made, the patient embarks on a process of preoperative screening and assessment, which is outlined in this article together with postoperative care.