Your heart has four valves that open to let blood pass through and close to prevent blood from flowing back in the wrong direction. Valvular surgery is performed to repair heart valves that are blocked, narrowed (stenosis) or leaking (regurgitation). In most cases, our surgeons will seek to repair damaged heart valves instead of replacing them. This practice allows patients to avoid the use of blood thinners and reduces their risk of infection. In the surgery to repair a damaged valve, surgeons either loosen stiff valve leaflets or tighten loose valve leaflets. Many valvular repair procedures may be performed using minimally invasive cardiac surgery.
There are several types of valve repair surgery. Three of the most common are:
Through our proven, multidisciplinary approach, UR Medicine Cardiac Care provides the most advanced valve repair surgeries and treatments available today. We regularly handle the most complex cases in the Rochester region with excellent outcomes.
Our team of surgeons has extensive experience with minimally invasive procedures, which can be effective for many valve repair surgery patients—even the most challenging repairs. For instance, our surgeons routinely use minimally invasive procedures for mitral valve repair and replacement as well as MVR/Tricuspid repair.
UR Medicine is also a leader in the use of robotic surgery for valve repair—the first facility in our region to do so. Robotic surgery lets us perform valve repair through smaller incisions with greater control and accuracy.