Uploaded and shared in Youtube by: mayoclinic — This Mayo Clinic animation shows how, using robotic technology, surgeons can repair mitral valve prolapse, one of the most common acquired heart conditions in the Western World, affecting nearly 3 percent of the population. Severe, uncorrected mitral valvue regurgitation can result in heart failure and sudden death. In addition to a smaller, less noticeable surgical scar, the advantages of robot-assisted mitral valve repair include: earlier removal of the breathing tube, same day transition to ward-based care, less blood loss and need for blood transfusions, earlier dismissal from hospital, lower hospital costs, quicker return to normal activities and improved quality of life. Cardiac surgeon Rakesh M. Suri, MD, Dphil, Mayo Clinic, co-produced this animation.