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Yale-New Haven Hospital Heart and Vascular Center’s Valve Surgery Program is nationally known for its excellence. It is the first center in New England — and one of the first in the country — to perform mitral valve repairs, beginning in 1984.
At Yale-New Haven, emphasis is made on the superior outcome of mitral valve repair over replacement. As with all cardiac surgery, valve replacement and repair require the skilled hands of expert surgeons with years of experience. Our surgeons are the top in their field, and they have among the highest success rates and lowest instances of complications in the country.A team of experts
Our physicians have vast experience with complex combined valve procedures, including
Minimally invasive surgery
Most isolated mitral valve repairs are done with minimally invasive surgery, which means that incisions are smaller and patients recover faster with less pain and blood loss. The incision is about 2 to 3 inches, compared to a 6-to-8-inch incision in traditional open surgery. Patients usually feel better quickly and can drive after two weeks.
Repair rather than replace
Our physicians feel strongly that repairing a mitral valve is better for the patient than replacing it. At Yale-New Haven, we repair more than 90 percent of valves for patients. This is far higher than the rate of repair at other centers across the country, which stands at 37.5 percent, according to data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
Yale-New Haven surgeons employ the latest techniques, allowing access to the diseased valve through a window using microscopic tools, computers and tiny cameras.
Sabet W. Hashim, MD Director, Cardiac Valve Surgery
Download the Services and Outcomes Guide (PDF).