Heart and vascular experts at Bayhealth use the Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR) procedure to replace a leaky mitral valve in your heart. This innovative procedure provides a minimally invasive alternative to traditional open-heart surgery.
Speak with one of our experts about TMVR.
What is a Leaky Mitral Valve?
Located between the upper-left heart chamber (atrium) and the lower-left heart chamber (ventricle), the mitral valve helps control the flow of blood in your heart. When the mitral valve becomes damaged or faulty, it could start to leak (regurgitate) blood back into the atrium or become too narrow (stenosis) for normal blood flow. The TMVR procedure addresses symptoms of mitral valve damage, reducing the risk of health complications such as heart failure. Our experts may recommend TMVR for older individuals, as well as those who have underlying health conditions that increase the risks associated with open-heart surgery.
What Happens During the TMVR Procedure?
Replacing the mitral valve traditionally requires open-heart surgery — but the innovative TMVR procedure provides a minimally invasive alternative. Our heart and vascular experts will recommend the best treatment approach based on your age, overall health and other factors. During the procedure, a thin tube (catheter) is inserted into one of your blood vessels and directed toward your heart using advanced imaging technology. Our experts then locate the damaged mitral valve inside your heart and install the new valve. This inpatient procedure is performed outside of the operating room in the cardiac catheterization lab. It typically takes two to three hours, with constant surveillance of your vital signs by members of our expert cardiovascular team.
What Happens After the TMVR Procedure?
Considered a game-changer in the treatment of mitral valve regurgitation and mitral valve stenosis, the TMVR procedure typically results in a shorter recovery time compared to other treatment approaches. Following the procedure, patients are admitted and typically go home within two to five days. Patients commonly return to normal activity within weeks to months, in accordance with their doctor’s recommendations for activity.
Learn about other heart and vascular procedures at Bayhealth.