Mitral Valve
The mitral valve separates the left atrium and the left ventricle. It can be stenotic and not open well or regurgitant and leaky. Rheumatic heart disease, myxomatous degeneration, endocarditis and atherosclerosis are the major causes of mitral valve disease.

As with aortic valve disease the replacement options are either mechanical or tissue. However, in most cases of mitral regurgitation (leaky valve), repair is possible, allowing the patient to retain the normal valvular tissue.

Mitral valve surgery is performed at St. Luke's-Roosevelt through small incision in the side allowing for quicker recovery and less pain.

Because almost 40% of patients with mitral valve disease have atrial fibrillation, our surgeons frequently perform radiofrequency ablation procedures at the time of the mitral valve operation. This allows patients to avoid anticoagulation and remain in normal sinus rhythm.