Medication
Open-heart surgery to repair or replace the diseased valve may be required for severe mitral valve regurgitation that develops or worsens abruptly. The replacement is a mechanical valve or one made of pig, cow or human heart tissue.
Procedures
If you have mitral valve regurgitation, your doctor may recommend one of several treatments. You might just need a change in lifestyle. But you could need medication or surgery.
Nutrition
Diuretic medications, such as furosemide or chlorothiazide, can reduce swelling due to fluid retention from less blood being pumped to the kidneys and thus less filtration. For cases of acute and severe mitral valve regurgitation, surgery is usually required.
When and how to treat a leaky mitral valve?
Dec 10, 2018 · Treatment Options for Mitral Regurgitation. Depending on the severity of your heart valve disease, your cardiologist may recommend: Medications. Surgical treatment. Non-surgical, less invasive treatments. To learn about the various treatment options for mitral regurgitation, keep reading.
How dangerous is mitral valve replacement surgery?
Aug 08, 2020 · Medications can’t actually fix a valve problem, but they can target other things that make regurgitation worse. Drugs called diuretics (or “water pills”) can lessen fluid buildups.
Should I worry about mild mitral regurgitation?
Feb 05, 2019 · The treatment of mitral valve regurgitation largely depends upon the severity of your condition, the signs and symptoms that you experience and if your condition is worsening and with what speed. The focus of the treatment is to reduce the severity of your symptoms, improve the functioning of heart and avoid any complications in future.
What harm can a thickened mitral valve cause?
Transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR): Doctors insert a device called the MitraClip into your valve to relieve the most common type of regurgitation. Balloon valvuloplasty: Doctors thread a balloon into the valve and inflate it, opening narrowed …
How long can you live with mitral valve regurgitation?
Can mitral valve regurgitation be treated with medicine?
Can mitral regurgitation go away?
How do they fix mitral valve regurgitation?
When is surgery necessary for mitral valve regurgitation?
Is mitral regurgitation serious?
Does mitral valve regurgitation get worse with age?
What is the most common cause of mitral regurgitation?
Can valve regurgitation be reversed?
Which is worse mitral valve prolapse or regurgitation?
How long does mitral valve repair last?
Which is better mitral valve repair or replacement?
What is mitral valve regurgitation?
Mitral valve regurgitation, also known as mitral valve insufficiency, refers to blood leaking back through the mitral valve. The mitral valve is on...
How fast does mitral valve regurgitation progress?
Chronic mitral valve regurgitation progresses at an average rate of 7.4 mL of increased backflow of blood per year. Over time, this can cause remod...
What causes mitral valve regurgitation?
Mitral valve regurgitation can be caused by mitral valve prolapse (MVP), or the bulging of the mitral valve’s two leaflets back into the left atriu...
What are the signs and symptoms of mitral valve regurgitation?
Signs and symptoms of mitral valve regurgitation depend on whether the condition is chronic or acute. In chronic regurgitation, most individuals wi...
How is mitral valve regurgitation diagnosed?
Mitral valve regurgitation is diagnosed after a thorough understanding of the individual’s medical history and physical examination. The healthcare...
How is mitral valve regurgitation treated?
Mitral valve regurgitation may not require any treatment if the condition is mild to moderate, but may need to be monitored using echocardiograms o...
What are the most important facts to know about mitral valve regurgitation?
Mitral valve regurgitation refers to a defect in the mitral valve which allows blood to flow from the left ventricle back into the left atrium. As...
Can mitral valve regurgitation be treated?
If you have mild mitral valve regurgitation, you may not need treatment right away. Your doctor will monitor your condition and may prescribe medication to relieve symptoms. If the regurgitation is more of a problem, you may need to have the valve repaired or replaced.
Can a transcatheter valve be replaced?
Transcatheter mitral valve replacement may be recommended for certain patients who are not candidates for either open-heart or minimally invasive valve repair. In this procedure, the doctor delivers a collapsible replacement valve to the heart by means of a catheter threaded through a blood vessel.
What are the symptoms of mitral valve regurgitation?
Signs and symptoms of mitral valve regurgitation, which depend on its severity and how quickly the condition develops, can include: Abnormal heart sound (heart murmur) heard through a stethoscope. Shortness of breath (dyspnea), especially when you have been very active or when you lie down. Fatigue.
Can mitral valve regurgitation cause heart failure?
You may need heart surgery to repair or replace the valve for severe leakage or regurgitation. Left untreated, severe mitral valve regurgitation can cause heart failure or heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias).
What is it called when the mitral valve doesn't close?
Mitral valve regurgitation — also called mitral regurgitation, mitral insufficiency or mitral incompetence — is a condition in which your heart's mitral valve doesn't close tightly, allowing blood to flow backward in your heart.
What is the mitral valve?
Mitral valve prolapse and regurgitation. The mitral valve separates the two chambers (atrium and ventricle) of the left side of the heart. In mitral valve prolapse, the leaflets of the mitral valve bulge (prolapse) into the left atrium like a parachute during the heart's contraction.
Can a leaky valve cause heart failure?
A leaky valve doesn't close the way it should, allowing some blood to flow backward into the left atrium. If left untreated, a leaky valve could lead to heart failure. Treatment of mitral valve regurgitation depends on how severe your condition is, whether it's getting worse and whether you have symptoms.
What to do if your heart murmurs?
If your doctor hears a heart murmur when listening to your heart with a stethoscope, he or she may recommend that you visit a cardiologist and get an echocardiogram. If you develop symptoms that suggest mitral valve regurgitation or another problem with your heart, see your doctor right away.
How many chambers does the heart have?
A normal heart has two upper and two lower chambers. The upper chambers, the right and left atria, receive incoming blood. The lower chambers, the more muscular right and left ventricles, pump blood out of your heart. The heart valves, which keep blood flowing in the right direction, are gates at the chamber openings.
What is the mitral valve?
Your mitral valve is one of the parts that makes this happen. It’s located between two of the four chambers in your heart: the left atrium and the left ventricle. When it’s working the right way, the valve opens up and allows blood to flow out of the atrium, which is above it. It’s then supposed to close back up.
What is the best way to repair a heart valve?
For others, open-heart surgery is the best option. Open-heart Surgery. This is the most common way to repair or replace your heart valve. You may need it even if you don’t have any symptoms. That’s because your doctor might decide this will prevent long-term heart damage.
How to fix a valve?
The decision on whether to fix it and what type of procedure to use depends on several things: 1 The severity of your valve problem 2 Your age and health 3 Whether you need surgery for other heart conditions, too
Can regurgitation cause heart failure?
It can also cause high blood pressure and a buildup of fluid in your lungs. If it’s left untreated and gets worse, regurgitation could lead to heart failure, stroke, or blood clots because the heart can’t pump enough blood to your body.
Is it good to exercise every day?
But this is also about what you can enjoy, too: plenty of fruits, vegetables, and protein. Exercise is good for your heart and lungs. Even a small increase in physical activity every day is good for you.
Treatment Options for Mitral Regurgitation
Depending on the severity of your heart valve disease, your cardiologist may recommend:
Medications for Mitral Regurgitation
No medications have been proven to help the flaps of the mitral valve close properly. However, your doctor may recommend medications to help reduce the symptoms of mitral regurgitation.
Surgical Treatments for Mitral Regurgitation
If you are diagnosed with moderate to severe (grade 3) or severe (grade 4) mitral regurgitation, your doctor may recommend a surgical treatment.
Non-Surgical, Less Invasive Treatments for Mitral Regurgitation
Great progress is being made with treatments that do not require open-heart surgery. These approaches use a small flexible tube (catheter) that is threaded through the arteries from the upper thigh to the heart.
Learn More
If you have heart valve disease, it is important to understand your condition so that you can work closely with your healthcare team to develop a long-term plan for your care. We invite you to check out the SecondsCount Valvular Heart Disease Center here.
What Is The Cure For Mitral Valve Regurgitation?
Mitral valve regurgitation is usually a slowly progressing condition. However, symptoms can start, or condition can worsen very suddenly. Regurgitation often requires no treatment. Though if needed, it can be cured with medications or surgery, as per your condition.
Surgery For Mitral Valve Regurgitation
Many cases of mitral valve regurgitation may not need any treatment at all, and even fewer face the need of undergoing a surgery. If needed, surgery can be done through two methods-the defective valve can be repaired, or it can be replaced.
What is it called when the mitral valve is leaking?
This condition is called mitral valve regurgitation. We determine when a mitral valve malfunction could lead to heart strain and eventual failure, and when it does not pose a danger. If you need treatment, our doctors offer ...
Is valve surgery safe?
Valve surgery still offers the safest, most effective, and longest lasting fix for many people. Because of the benefits, we prefer to surgically repair your valve and can often do so with a minimally invasive approach.
What is a small tube called?
Small tubes called catheters allow our doctors to safely access your heart through the leg vein or the leg artery . These interventional procedures may help if you cannot undergo surgery for regurgitation or if the stenosis is due to rheumatic fever.
What is the phone number for Stanford Hospital?
Stanford, CA 94305. Phone: 650-725-2621. Please plan to arrive 30 minutes prior to your appointment time due to construction near the main hospital campus. This will allow you plenty of time to park, locate your clinic, and complete any additional paperwork.
How to repair mitral valve?
If your surgeon needs to repair your mitral valve through tiny incisions (without opening up your chest), here are minimally invasive surgical options: 1 Right mini-thoracotomy. The surgeon inserts special instruments and repairs the valve through a 2- to 3-inch incision in a skin fold on the right side of the chest. 2 Partial upper sternotomy. This also involves a 2- to 3-inch incision, this time in the upper portion of the sternum. This gives the surgeon easier access to repair the valve. 3 Robotically assisted mitral valve repair. In this case, your surgeon works through a few incisions of about 1 inch or less. With a computer console, the surgeon can control instruments on thin robotic arms. This allows him or her to open the thin sac around your heart to perform the repair.
Can mitral valve disease be solved?
While mitral valve disease can lead to severe heart failure, it can often be solved with open surgery. But, what if you are unable to undergo major surgery because of other health issues?
Can a surgeon repair a mitral valve?
Medication is sometimes a solution, but surgeons also may use minimally invasive options to repair the mitral valve. Researchers are also investigating several promising mitral valve replacement options. “Percutaneous (through the skin) mitral valve repair and replacement techniques are rapidly growing. They help patients who currently do not have ...
What is the mitral valve?
The mitral valve allows oxygen-rich blood flowing from the lungs to return to the heart. “The most common valve problem is leakage, also known as mitral valve regurgitation ,” Dr. Kapadia says. “If the blood leaks back into the lungs, it causes you to have shortness of breath.”.
How does a robotic mitral valve repair work?
In this case, your surgeon works through a few incisions of about 1 inch or less. With a computer console, the surgeon can control instruments on thin robotic arms. This allows him or her to open the thin sac around your heart to perform the repair.
What is it called when a valve doesn't open?
If your valve doesn’t open properly, this is known as mitral valve stenosis. “We see mitral valve stenosis in patients who were exposed to a lot of radiation from breast cancer or lung cancer treatments or in some patients with calcification of mitral valve without obvious causes,” he says.
