Mitral Valve Repair & Replacement in Kuala Lumpur
The mitral valve controls blood flow on the left side of the heart. When it leaks (regurgitation) or narrows (stenosis), it may need surgical repair or replacement. Prof. Dr. Shahrul Amry Hashim performs mitral valve surgery at KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital 2, Kuala Lumpur, including keyhole (minimally invasive) approaches through a small incision between the ribs in suitable patients.
What is mitral valve disease?
The mitral valve sits between the two chambers on the left side of the heart and keeps blood flowing in one direction. In mitral regurgitation the valve does not close fully and blood leaks backwards; in mitral stenosis the valve becomes narrowed and stiff. Both make the heart work harder and can cause breathlessness, tiredness and swelling, and over time can strain the heart.
Mitral valve disease can develop with age, after rheumatic fever, or alongside other heart conditions. When it becomes significant, surgery to repair or replace the valve is often recommended. See the heart conditions treated.
What is the difference between mitral valve repair and replacement?
Repair restores the function of your own mitral valve, for example by reshaping the valve tissue and placing a support ring (annuloplasty). Replacement removes the diseased valve and replaces it with a mechanical valve or a tissue (biological) valve.
Where the valve is suitable, repair is generally preferred because it preserves your natural valve. Whether your valve can be repaired, and which type of replacement valve is most appropriate, is decided after reviewing your echocardiogram and other investigations, together with your cardiologist.
Can mitral valve surgery be done by keyhole (minimally invasive)?
In suitable patients, mitral valve repair and replacement can be performed using a keyhole (minimally invasive) approach through a small incision between the ribs, without dividing the breastbone. Because the breastbone is left intact, this generally means less pain, a smaller scar and a faster return to daily life.
The keyhole approach is not suitable for every patient; the right method depends on your valve, your anatomy and your overall health, and is decided after assessment. Read more about keyhole (MICS) surgery.
Who needs mitral valve surgery, and what is recovery like?
Surgery is usually considered when mitral valve disease is significant, when it is causing symptoms such as breathlessness, or when it is beginning to affect the heart's function even before symptoms appear. The timing of surgery is decided together with your cardiologist based on your echocardiogram and clinical picture.
Recovery varies from patient to patient and depends on whether a keyhole or open approach is used. The keyhole approach generally allows a shorter hospital stay and a faster return to normal activity than open surgery, because the breastbone is not divided. Your surgical team and cardiologist will guide your individual recovery and follow-up.
Reviewed by Prof. Dr. Shahrul Amry Hashim, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital 2. Last reviewed: September 2026.
Mitral valve surgery: common questions
Discuss mitral valve surgery with Prof. Shahrul
If you have been diagnosed with a leaking or narrowed mitral valve, Prof. Shahrul will review your echocardiogram and discuss whether repair, replacement and a keyhole approach are suitable.