Valvular heart disease

Diseases of the mitral valve usually involve the mitral valve (between the left atrium and left ventricle) and the aortic valve (between the left ventricle and the aorta).

The main aim of surgical treatment of valvular heart disease in our clinic is to preserve the diseased valve by a repair procedure. This is possible particularly in the case of the mitral valve. In contrast, the aortic valve has to be replaced more often. Apart from mechanical prostheses and biological valves (derived from cows or pigs), homografts can also be used. These consist of human tissue, obtained, for instance, at cardiac transplantation from the explanted recipient heart.

In heart valve surgery overall, minimally invasive operation techniques with small incisions are employed as far as possible. Since January 2008, aortic valves have regularly been introduced through the apex of the heart with catheter assistance; a small 5-6 cm incision at the left costal margin is sufficient. This operation is performed in collaboration with the cardiologists and most recently as a hybrid operation.