Mitral Valve Replacement

Tina Receives Comprehensive Heart Care Close to Home

When Tina needed a new mitral valve, she benefited from BJC HealthCare’s collaborative approach to care that connected her with a multidisciplinary team of heart specialists. Her journey included seamless coordination between medical teams at two BJC HealthCare facilities: Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital and Missouri Baptist Medical Center (MoBap).

First Valve Repair

In 1993, Tina had open heart surgery to repair her mitral valve that was not closing completely, allowing blood to regurgitate or leak from the left ventricle (the lower left heart chamber) into the left atrium (upper left heart chamber). During the surgery, doctors placed a Teflon ring around her mitral valve to tighten it and help prevent leaking. This repair would last 30 years.

Heart Checkup Reveals Problem

As part of her annual heart care, Tina sees BJC Medical Group physician Michael Missler, DO, a cardiologist on staff at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital.

During her yearly heart checkup in January, Dr. Missler used a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) to evaluate Tina’s heart and mitral valve. “The TEE results showed that after 30 years, her mitral valve was leaking again and also was not opening completely, inhibiting blood flow to the left ventricle,” he says. “The valve couldn’t be repaired and needed to be replaced.”

Dr. Missler referred Tina to James Scharff, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon on staff at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, for consultation and mitral valve replacement. 

Besides having an office on the Missouri Baptist Medical Center campus, Dr. Scharff has office hours during the week at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital. “Being right down the hall from the cardiology office offers a real convenience for patients because they can see their specialists without making a trip to another facility.”

Barbara, Tina’s mother, remembers her first meeting with Dr. Scharff. “I was impressed right away,” she says. “He discussed the next steps and explained the surgery, taking time to answer our questions.”

Preparing for Surgery

Before Tina’s valve replacement surgery was scheduled, she had a diagnostic cardiac catheterization at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital. This procedure would give Dr. Missler more information about the heart’s blood vessels and help Dr. Scharff determine the best type of surgery: open heart or smaller incision.

After the procedure, Dr. Missler told Barbara and Tina that there were no blockages in the heart’s arteries. Dr. Scharff determined that the valve replacement could be done through a small incision under Tina’s arm and between her ribs without cutting through bone.

When choosing where to have the surgery, Dr. Scharff talked to Barbara and Tina. Because mitral valve surgeries aren’t performed at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, he recommended MoBap. “Missouri Baptist Medical Center is close by and has dedicated operating rooms and surgical teams specializing in heart and vascular care.”

Barbara agreed with Dr. Scharff but was nervous about going to a new hospital. “All of Tina’s heart care has been at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital and Progress West Hospital, and we’ve been very happy with the care we’ve received,” says Barbara. “But we trusted Dr. Missler, had confidence in Dr. Scharff and know that the BJC HealthCare system provides great care.”

A New Mitral Valve

On April 4, Tina was admitted to MoBap. As she prepared for Tina’s surgery, Barbara was impressed with how easy it was to move between hospitals within the BJC HealthCare system. “It was seamless,” Barbara says. “Everyone knew Tina’s details, and you could tell there was constant communication.”

During the surgical procedure, Dr. Scharff removed the Teflon ring and replaced Tina’s mitral valve with an artificial pig valve. After the operation, Tina recovered at MoBap for four days before being discharged home. Barbara was by Tina’s side during her recovery and felt like she was part of the care team. “The nursing staff was wonderful and welcomed my involvement.”

Dr. Scharff says, “Our cardiovascular care program offers the flexibility that patients and families need to aid recovery.”

Four weeks after surgery, Tina saw Dr. Scharff for a follow-up visit. “Her surgery was successful, and the new mitral valve has restored normal heart function,” Dr. Scharff says.

With the surgery behind her, Tina will continue her annual heart care with Dr. Missler. As Barbara and Tina reflect on the experience, Barbara says, “From start to finish, we were always part of the decision-making process, and everyone listened to us. It was such a positive experience.”

Cardiovascular Care Close to Home

Dr.  Missler and Dr. Scharff describe the strength of the cardiovascular program, which includes a highly specialized team of surgeons and cardiologists who review patient cases in a collaborative environment to develop individualized treatment plans for each patient.

“The specialization of our multidisciplinary team brings in-depth knowledge of cardiac diseases and treatments,” says Dr. Missler. “When patients come to BJC HealthCare for heart care, they have access to the region’s top specialists and can receive convenient care close to home.”

Dr. Scharff adds, “Our comprehensive team approach combines patient-centered care and state-of-the-art technology, making it possible for patients to get the care they need when they need it.