Surgical Repair of the Mitral Valve

OPEN HEART SURGERY PROGRAM

Surgical Repair of the Mitral Valve

The most definitive way to address advanced degenerative mitral valve disease. This requires a cardiopulmonary bypass and a highly-skilled surgeon.

Photo of a cavalier king charles spaniel dog

The purpose of the Open Heart Surgery Program at the University of Florida is to make lives better for pets with heart disease through access to open heart surgery. Through this program, we envision a world where no pet needs to die from surgically treatable heart disease.

Dr. Katsuhiro Matsuura who leads the Open Heart Surgery Program at the University of Florida Small Animal Hospital has extensive experience in surgical repair of the mitral valve in dogs with a high success rate.

Katsuhiro Matsuura
Department: Small Animal Clinical Sciences

Katsuhiro Matsuura DVM, PhD

Clinical Assistant Professor In Open-heart Surgery

Mitral Valve Surgery FAQs

Which dogs are eligible for mitral valve surgery?

Dogs with advanced degenerative mitral valve disease (ACVIM Stages C and D as well as advanced Stage B2) will be considered for open heart mitral valve surgery on a case-by-case basis after preoperative testing is evaluated by our team.

Screening can be performed by your local cardiologist. They can carry out the necessary examinations and arrange for the required testing. Please ask your veterinarian to complete the rDVM Mitral Valve Surgery Consult Form for review by the cardiology team at UF.

What steps do I need to take before making an appointment for surgery?

Step 1

The following information is required for the rDVM Mitral Valve Surgery Consult Form:

  • Clinical Information
  • Echocardiography performed by a boarded cardiologist or cardiology resident under supervision of boarded cardiologist
  • Most Recent Renal Values

Please ask your veterinarian to submit this information through our website portal. Our team will review this medical information and then reach out to you to schedule a Zoom meeting for further discussion. 

Please allow 4-6 weeks after submission to hear from a team member about next steps.

Step 2

After the clinical information is reviewed and the patient is deemed eligible, an online meeting will be scheduled to discuss the risks and benefits of open-heart mitral valve repair surgery. At this time, the owner will determine if they would like to move forward with the procedure. Note: an online meeting will not be offered for dogs who are not eligible for open-heart mitral valve repair based on initial submission information.

Step 3

The following tests are required to be submitted four weeks before the anticipated surgery date. The procedure may need to be rescheduled if the results are not received by then.

  • A veterinarian’s assessment of the dog’s skin is required within 2 weeks of surgery to be sure there is no evidence of skin infection
  • Blood Pressure
  • 6-lead Electrocardiogram
  • Complete blood count
  • Chemistry panel
  • Urinalysis
  • C-reactive protein
  • Coagulation profile (PT/PTT)
  • 3-view thoracic (chest) radiographs
  • Abdominal radiographs
  • Abdominal ultrasound performed by a boarded radiologist or radiology resident under the supervision of a boarded radiologist
  • Blood typing

These tests can be performed at the University of Florida or at a specialty hospital near you. If they are not performed at the University of Florida, the test results will need to be reviewed for eligibility.

Can I fly with my dog to Gainesville, FL?

Most dogs can safely fly in the cabin after being evaluated by their cardiologist to be sure they are stable and do not have active evidence of congestive heart failure. Your cardiologist can prescribe a safe sedative if necessary.

How much does the surgery cost?

The cost for mitral valve repair is estimated to be $45,000-50,000. This estimate includes surgery and in-hospital post-operative care, barring complications. As with any medical procedure, the cost is an estimate and can be affected by a variety of factors including duration of the hospital stay and complications. The estimate will be fully discussed with you, especially if it changes during the hospital stay.

How long does my dog stay in the hospital?

Most dogs stay in the hospital for seven days, but post-operative recovery can be variable.

Rechecks will be scheduled for two weeks after surgery. We strongly recommend remaining in Gainesville until the recheck is performed.

Rechecks will be scheduled for 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery, and then annually thereafter. The cost of recheck evaluations is not part of the initial estimate. Follow-up evaluations can be performed at UF or with your local cardiologist.

What happens after surgery?

For dogs taking medications, the dose and number of medications can be decreased or stopped after mitral valve surgery.

Specific instructions for a return to activity will be discussed with you at the time of discharge. For most dogs, this will be a gradual return to full activity by three months after surgery.

As with any surgical procedure, complications can occur. Complications of mitral valve repair surgery include, but are not limited to bleeding, infection, clot formation, arrhythmias (irregular rhythm), low blood pressure and death. Our group of experts at the UF Veterinary Hospitals will monitor closely for the development of any of these complications and tailor the treatment plan as appropriate.

How long does it take to schedule my dog for surgery?

Based on our current wait list, the wait time from first submission of clinical information to surgery is 6 months.

Is mitral valve surgery ever done on an emergency basis?

No. Dogs should be medically stabilized before open-heart surgery. Owners of dogs who have been hospitalized for the treatment of active congestive heart failure should work with their primary cardiologist to ensure that their dog’s heart failure is controlled before surgery.

How is open heart surgery to repair the mitral valve different from transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) of the mitral valve using the V-Clamp?

Surgical repair of the mitral valve is performed by opening the heart after placing the dog on cardiopulmonary bypass. The mitral valve is repaired by tightening the annulus and replacing chordae tendineae, the chords that attach the mitral valve to the heart, to improve the function of the mitral valve. The TEER procedure is a minimally invasive procedure performed by introducing a clamp device called a V-Clamp into the beating heart and across the mitral valve after surgically opening the chest. The V-Clamp brings the middle of the mitral valve leaflets together to reduce the amount of valve leak or regurgitation.

Open heart mitral valve surgery to repair the valve and chordae tendineae is more definitive than the V-Clamp procedure, which just brings the mitral valve leaflets together in the middle. Surgical repair requires cardiopulmonary bypass and specialized teams to perform the surgery and perfusion during bypass.

What is the difference between pursuing open heart mitral valve surgery as compared to medical management of mitral valve disease?

Medical management of mitral valve disease is palliative, meaning that medications do not necessarily prevent the progression of the valve thickening and dysfunction, but rather delay the onset and recurrence of congestive heart failure. Surgical repair of the mitral valve corrects the valve abnormality that leads to the valve leak (mitral regurgitation) and therefore is a definitive treatment by addressing the cause of the problem.


Mandy’s Mission

Mandy’s Mission to Mend Hearts, established by a generous donation, is in honor of Mandy, a wonderful Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who lost her battle with Mitral Valve Disease. Mandy’s Mission supports the development of an open heart surgery program at the University of Florida Small Animal Hospital. Donations to this fund will help provide necessary funding to support the program, and the training of our cardiac surgeons to perform mitral valve repair surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass. The high quality care and expertise of the faculty and staff, is vital to ensure a successful outcome. Your support will help with the development and sustainability of this program at UF.

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