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WVU Heart and Vascular Institute receives recognition as a Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center from the American Heart Association

Heart Doctor

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The WVU Heart and Vascular Institute has received the Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award from the American Heart Association and the Mitral Foundation for a demonstrated record of superior clinical outcomes resulting from evidence-based, guideline-directed degenerative mitral valve repair.

The Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award was developed to identify, recognize, and promote the nation’s recognized medical centers for mitral valve repair surgery. The WVU Heart and Vascular Institute earned the award for demonstrating adherence to evidence-based treatment guidelines as well as an ongoing commitment to reporting and measuring quality and outcome metrics specific to mitral valve repairs. The WVU Heart and Vascular Institute has received this national recognition for the second straight year since its inception for its expertise in mitral repair, the majority of which is done robotically.

The recommended treatment for degenerative mitral valve disease is mitral valve reconstruction, as opposed to valve replacement with a bioprosthetic or mechanical valve since valve repair is associated with improved survival and fewer long-term complications. Many patients who would benefit from repair receive replacement valves, with higher rates of death or complications within five years after surgery. 

“Our superb multidisciplinary team is proud to share this national recognition with only a handful of other reference programs around the country. Awards such as these continue to showcase our team’s commitment to providing only the highest quality cardiovascular care to our patients,” Vinay Badhwar, M.D., WVU Heart and Vascular Institute executive chair, said. “While we are honored to be recognized as the leader of mitral valve surgery in our multi-state region, we feel privileged to provide this state-of-the-art treatment right here in West Virginia.”

More information about the American Heart Association and Mitral Foundation Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award is available at on www.heart.org. For more information on the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute, visit WVUMedicine.org/Heart. 

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