Mitral Repair Risks and Complications

Mitral valve repair surgery carries the risk of complications associated with anesthesia and any surgery, as well as complications unique to mitral valve repair.  These risks are low in the hands of experienced surgeons with experienced surgical teams, and the success rate of mitral valve repair surgery is generally high.

The risks for anesthesia used in mitral valve repair include:

• Reactions to medications used in anesthesia, including conditions such as malignant hyperthermia
• Breathing problems

 

The risks for any surgery include:

• Bleeding
• Infection at the site of surgery
• Deep venous thrombosis: blood clots in the veins that may lead to clots in the lungs
• Excessive scarring (keloid formation)
• Chronic pain
• Allergic reaction to medication

 

The specific risks for mitral valve repair include risks from the heart-lung machine used to maintain blood oxygenation during surgery.  These include:

• Death
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythms)
• Kidney failure
• Temporary postoperative confusion due to the heart-lung machine
• Lung problems, including  pneumonia

 

 

After mitral valve repair surgery, patients are at increased risk for infections of the heart valves.  Patients will need to take long term antibiotics to prevent infection, and are always required to take antibiotics before dental work and other invasive procedures.

Major complications from mitral valve repair surgery may lead to a longer hospital stay, blood transfusion, need for a repeat surgery, or dialysis if renal failure develops. Rarely, major complications can lead to permanent disability and even loss of life.  Overall these risks are low, and there is a low mortality associated with mitral valve repair.

More Information

    • Heart Surgery Risks and Complications from the NIH