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.