What surgery may be needed for Marfan syndrome?

Some patients with Marfan syndrome (a condition that affects the body’s connective tissue) may require heart surgery at some point in time. The most common types of surgery are:

Aortic aneurysm repair: The aorta is the largest artery in the body and is commonly affected by Marfan syndrome. The disease may weaken part of the aortic wall, resulting in a ballooning, or aneurysm, developing in that area. Surgery to repair the aneurysm is done with a special graft that replaces part of the aorta but leaves your natural valve in place. This procedure is called valve sparing. Your aortic valve may need to be repaired or replaced during this surgery.

Aortic valve replacement: As the aortic root becomes more dilated, the aortic valve may start to leak (regurgitation). When this occurs, the aortic valve may need to be repaired or replaced. This procedure may be done with or without repair of the aorta.

Mitral valve repair or replacement: People with Marfan syndrome may have mitral valve prolapse. This is a condition that occurs when the left ventricle contracts and mitral valve tissues bulge back into the left atrium, allowing blood to leak backward into the left atrium (mitral regurgitation). When this leakage becomes severe, mitral valve repair or replacement will be recommended.