The mitral valve is one of the four valves that regulate blood flow within the heart. It controls the flow of blood between the left atrium and the left ventricle. A healthy mitral valve opens and closes with each heartbeat, allowing blood to flow in one direction. However, sometimes, the mitral valve can become diseased, and its ability to function correctly is compromised. In such cases, mitral valve replacement surgery may be necessary to restore the proper functioning of the heart.

Medical tourism could be useful for patients requiring mitral valve replacement surgery, as it might be a cost-effective solution for its treatment. Platforms like Medditour help in connecting the international hospitals and facilitators with no long waiting time.

In this article, let’s focus on the need for mitral valve replacement, treatment, and recovery from the surgery and how medical tourism could play a vital role in the treatment and cure.

Need for Mitral Valve Replacement

Mitral valve replacement surgery is needed when the mitral valve becomes damaged or diseased, and its ability to function correctly is compromised. The most common reasons for mitral valve disease are degenerative valve disease, rheumatic heart disease, infective endocarditis, and congenital heart disease.

An article on mitral valve from Healthline states that for some people, mitral valve disease is silent and there are no symptoms until the damage is severe and when symptoms occur, they include shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and a rapid heartbeat.

If left untreated, mitral valve disease can lead to several complications, including heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and atrial fibrillation.

Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery Procedure

Mitral valve replacement surgery involves removing the damaged mitral valve and replacing it with a mechanical or biological valve. A mechanical valve is usually made of metal or plastic, while a biological valve can be either from a pig, cow, or human tissue.

The surgical procedure is performed under general anesthesia, and the surgeon makes an incision in the chest to access the heart. The heart is then temporarily stopped, and the patient is placed on a heart-lung machine to maintain blood flow to the body. The surgeon removes the damaged mitral valve and replaces it with the new valve. After the procedure, the heart is restarted, and the patient is monitored for several days in the hospital.

Recovery from Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery

Recovery from mitral valve replacement surgery typically takes several weeks to months. The first few days after surgery are spent in the hospital, where the patient is closely monitored. After discharge, the patient will need to rest and avoid strenuous activity for several weeks. Cardiac rehabilitation may also be recommended to help the patient regain strength and endurance.

MedicineNet states that with proper patient selection and timely intervention, the estimated success rate of mitral valve repair surgery is around 95%.

Medical tourism for mitral valve replacement surgery

Medical tourism is a growing industry that offers several benefits to patients, including access to high-quality medical care at a lower cost, shorter wait times for treatment, and the opportunity to combine medical treatment with a vacation.

Many countries, such as India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai, Turkey, and Mexico, have become popular destinations for medical tourism due to the availability of surgeons, cost-effective treatment, and access to world-class treatment and technology.

Companies like Medditour take this as an advantage to help the patients combine their treatment at these global destinations with their vacation, so that they can relax during the rehabilitation or after the treatment and get back to normal quickly.

In conclusion, Mitral Valve Replacement surgery helps to restore the function of the heart, which, if left untreated, might lead to several complications. Medical tourism is a boon to the patients requiring mitral valve replacement surgery as it could be cost-effective solution for international patients.