It takes great skill and experience to properly repair a mitral valve, and not every dysfunctional mitral valve can be repaired. When the repair is successful, patients often do very well and do not require chronic treatment with blood thinners. Major complications include bleeding, infection, kidney failure, stroke, heart attack, and death. After the surgery, the tubes that have been placed in the body to help one breathe, to monitor pressures in the heart and arteries, and to prevent blood from accumulating in the lungs are removed during the first day or two. Most patients remain in the hospital about a week after surgery and take three to four weeks to recover completely.
Most patients are able to resume most leisure activities, and many return to work.
Since a mechanical heart valve can become infected if bacteria get into the bloodstream during certain dental and medical procedures, patients who have received mechanical heart valves must be treated with endocarditis prophylaxis at the time of such procedures to decrease the chances of developing a valve infection. Find a cardiologist near you. Join a live chat or threaded forum. Visit our medical store for your medical supply needs. Find cardiology related clinical trials through Veritas Medicine .