Mitral Valve Surgery for Heart Failure
What is Mitral Valve surgery?
Mitral valve surgery repairs or replaces the damaged mitral valve. The mitral valve regulates blood flow from the upper left heart chamber (atrium) into the lower left chamber (ventricle). Mitral valve regurgitation, caused by a damaged valve, is a serious condition, as blood backs up and leaks through the mitral valve between the upper and lower left chambers of the heart. Damaged valves, without repair, can cause enlargement of the left ventricle leading to heart failure.
What is Biventricular Pacing?
Biventricular pacing with an implantable cardiac device (ICD) helps to synchronize contractions of the left and right ventricles, reduces mitral valve regurgitation, and decreases septal wall motion. Biventricular pacing, works similar to standard pacemakers. Standard pacemakers have two right heart stimulation leads, the biventricular pacemaker has a third lead, which goes through a vein in the back of the heart wall. Biventricular pacing simultaneously stimulates the heart's upper and lower chambers, providing timed electrical impulses.