Severe mitral valve disease is generally treated by repairing the native valve or replacing it with an artificial valve.
With valve repair, your surgeon will try to restore your valve's competence using one of a variety of repair techniques designed to allow your valve leaflets to close properly. Most of these repair techniques involve the placement of an artificial, prosthetic ring around the valve opening; however, these rings do not require taking Coumadin long term. Valve repair is generally felt to have advantages over valve replacement. These advantages include maintenance of the normal geometry of the heart, avoidance of long-term Coumadin, and reduced risk of prosthetic infection.
If your own mitral valve cannot be repaired, it can be replaced with an artificial valve. There are two major classes of artificial valves: biologic valves made out of animal or human tissue and mechanical valves made out of fabric and metal. Mechanical valves are extremely durable, but generally require that you take a blood thinner called Coumadin for the rest of your life. Biologic valves do not require Coumadin, but they are less durable, generally lasting between 10 and 15 years; worn out valves often require another operation to replace them.