Valve Repair vs. Replacement: Woman Turns to Franciscan For Treatment

Many people with heart valve problems don’t have any symptoms. That was true for Janet Peterson.

Janet didn’t know she had a problem until she fainted at work more than 20 years ago in California. She was taken to the emergency room for testing and was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, a condition where the flaps of the mitral valve don’t close as they should.

Mitral valve prolapse is harmless in most cases, but sometimes it requires treatment. In Janet’s case, her doctor recommended yearly echocardiograms to keep an eye on the valve and make sure it didn’t get worse. She’s since moved to southwest Indiana and has had annual tests ever since her diagnosis. But a test in early 2022 showed something concerning.

From Watchful Waiting To Heart Surgery

“My echocardiogram showed serious regurgitation, but I didn’t have any symptoms,” Janet said. “For the first time, my cardiologist said I should consider surgery.”

Valve regurgitation happens when blood leaks backward through the heart valve into the upper heart chamber. This can lead to serious problems like congestive heart failure, heart dilation, or heart rhythm disorders, and shorten your life, so doctors recommend valve repair or replacement.

Coincidentally, Janet’s primary care doctor also had mitral valve prolapse and told her it was important to get treatment early when the valve can be repaired rather than replaced. Valve replacement changes your heart structure, and it may require taking blood thinners for the rest of your life. Heart valve repair retains your normal heart structure, has less risk of complications and has better long-term survival overall. In fact, it can be the same as someone without a heart valve problem.

“I wanted a surgeon who would repair the valve, and my local cardiologist wanted to replace it,” Janet said. “The southern Indiana cardiologist group only had one surgeon, and I couldn’t verify if they did repairs. So, I got online did some research and looked outside my area for doctors who performed mitral valve repairs.”

Finding The Right Surgeon

Janet’s research led her to Marc Gerdisch, MD, with Franciscan Health Indianapolis. She and her sister, who’s a nurse, made the two-hour drive to meet with Dr. Gerdisch.

“I knew after my first conversation with him that he was the one,” Janet said. “I had my iPad with my questions, and he answered all of them. He talked to me about minimally invasive mitral valve repair, which I didn’t realize was an option. He’s done several thousand of these procedures — my sister and I were both impressed with him and his incredible staff.”

In his evaluation, Dr. Gerdisch found that she also had a leaky tricuspid valve and repaired it along with the mitral valve through a small incision between the ribs on her right chest. The Enhanced Recover protocol at Franciscan includes use of advanced nerve blocks that kept her comfortable. Janet was off the ventilator when she left the operating room and did not require any narcotics during or after her hospital stay.

A Smooth Recovery

Janet spent three nights in the hospital. Before she left, the physical and occupational therapy team made sure she was fully mobile on her own, including taking a shower. She also appreciated visits from the spiritual care team.

“I was raised Catholic, and it was nice that a priest came in to see if I wanted to talk,” Janet said. “I think it’s amazing how Franciscan focuses on both body and spirit.”

Before Janet went home, Dr. Gerdisch’s staff went over a list of prescriptions and filled them for her at the hospital. so she didn’t need to go to the pharmacy. For discomfort after leaving, she only took a few Tylenol.

As part of her recovery, Janet went through a cardiac rehabilitation exercise program to optimize her aerobic capacity with her now well functioning valves. She was back to her regular activities a few weeks later — daily walks with her puppy, mowing the lawn and going to the gym.

“On my daily walks, I had a lot to think about before and after surgery,” she said. “Even with research and knowing what to expect, you really don’t know how everything will go. I think of my surgery as a speed bump rather than a whole lot more. It couldn’t have gone any better.”

“We discussed the priorities regarding Janet’s health and life goals and made our plan to repair both valves,” he said. “Different combinations of anatomy and physiology affect our strategy. As is true for every patient having heart surgery at Franciscan Indianapolis, regardless of incision type, she would have the benefit of our exceptional Enhanced Recovery After Surgery program that expedites recovery, lessens time away from family and work, and substantially reduces post-operative discomfort. From surgery and safety standpoints, it was clear that Janet would be an excellent candidate for a minimally invasive double valve repair. That gave us the advantage of not only repairing the valves but lessening the tissue trauma and abbreviating the recovery time a bit.”

Learn About Heart Care Expertise At Franciscan Health

If you or a loved one are living with heart disease, you can count on the skill and experience of our cardiac experts. We offer a full spectrum of care to prevent, find and treat all types of heart disease. You benefit from the latest heart care advancements and a treatment plan that’s designed just for you. Learn more about our heart care services.