Medication
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
Procedures
Possible risks of mitral valve repair and mitral valve replacement surgery include: Bleeding; Blood clots; Valve dysfunction in replacement valves; Heart rhythm problems; Infection; Stroke; Death; How you prepare. Your doctor may order several tests to get more information about your heart condition, including an echocardiogram.
Nutrition
Mitral valve regurgitation is often mild and progresses slowly. You may have no symptoms for many years and be unaware that you have this condition, and it might not progress. Your doctor might first suspect you have mitral valve regurgitation upon detecting a heart murmur.
When and how to treat a leaky mitral valve?
What Harm Can a Thickened Mitral Valve Cause? Mitral valve thickening is a feature of mitral valve stenosis and can cause complications that include atrial fibrillation, infective endocarditis, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary edema and systemic embolisms, explains Medscape.
How dangerous is mitral valve replacement surgery?
Should I worry about mild mitral regurgitation?
What harm can a thickened mitral valve cause?
What is the best treatment for mitral valve regurgitation?
Most people with mitral valve prolapse don't need surgery. But surgery may be recommended if mitral prolapse causes severe mitral valve regurgitation, whether or not you have symptoms. Surgery for a diseased or damaged mitral valve includes mitral valve repair or mitral valve replacement.
How long can you live with mitral valve regurgitation?
Widely disparate estimates of long term survival in patients with mitral regurgitation—between 97–27% at five years—have been reported.
Can mitral regurgitation go away?
Treatment of mitral valve regurgitation may include regular monitoring, medications or surgery. Some people with mitral regurgitation don't need treatment, especially when the regurgitation is mild.
Is mild mitral valve regurgitation serious?
Mild mitral valve regurgitation usually does not cause any problems. As mitral valve regurgitation gets worse, the heart must work harder to pump blood to the body. The strain on the heart can cause the left lower chamber to widen. The heart muscle may become weak.
What should I avoid if I have mitral valve regurgitation?
Avoid or limit alcohol. Heavy alcohol use can cause arrhythmias and can make your symptoms worse. Excessive alcohol use can also cause cardiomyopathy, a condition of weakened heart muscle that leads to mitral regurgitation.
What is the average age for mitral valve repair?
The study population included a total of 47279 patients, of whom 17360 (36.7%) underwent mitral valve repair and 29919 (63.3%) underwent mitral valve replacement. Median age was 75 years.
Should I worry about mitral regurgitation?
It also varies depending on how severe and sudden the condition is. And it depends on your overall health. Mitral valve regurgitation can increase risk for other heart rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillation. If you have mild or moderate mitral valve regurgitation, you may not need any treatment.
Can a mitral valve be fixed without surgery?
The Structural Heart and Valve Center at NYP/Columbia has long been a leader in catheter-based treatment—the least invasive therapy—to repair the mitral valve. This valve regulates blood flow between the upper and the lower chambers on the left side of the heart.
Is exercise good for mitral valve regurgitation?
If you have mild to moderate mitral valve regurgitation (MR) and do not have symptoms, you likely do not have to limit your physical activity. If you do have symptoms or if you have irregular heart rhythms or changes in your heart size or function, you may need to be cautious about physical activity.
What is the most common cause of mitral regurgitation?
Mitral valve prolapse: Prolapse is the most common cause of mitral regurgitation, and features extra tissue in the valve that keeps it from closing. Certain inherited genes can increase your risk of developing prolapse. It is also called click-murmur syndrome, Barlow's syndrome, and floppy valve syndrome.
Is mitral valve regurgitation considered heart disease?
Mitral regurgitation is a common type of heart valve disorder. Blood that flows between different chambers of your heart must flow through a valve. The valve between the 2 chambers on the left side of your heart is called the mitral valve.
What are the stages of mitral valve regurgitation?
There are three stages of mitral regurgitation:Compensated stage.Transitional stage.Decompensated stage.
What is the procedure to repair a mitral valve?
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.
What to do if your heart regurgitates?
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. Depending on your heart's condition and your overall health, the doctor will recommend one of the following procedures: Open-heart surgery to repair ...
Can mitral valve surgery be done with a bypass machine?
During surgery, the patient's heart is temporarily stopped to allow work on the valve, so a heart-lung bypass machine is used to circulate blood through the body. Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery can be an option for patients who have regurgitation but no other serious heart problems.
Can you make an incision in the chest for mitral valve replacement?
The procedure doesn't require making incisions in the chest or temporarily stopping the heart. Transcatheter mitral valve replacement may be recommended for certain patients who are not candidates for either open-heart or minimally invasive valve repair.
Why do you need to replace a mitral valve?
You may need to have your mitral valve repaired or replaced if your condition starts to affect your heart’s ability to pump blood. The decision on whether to fix it and what type of procedure to use depends on several things: The severity of your valve problem.
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.
How to repair a heart valve?
Your surgeon may make a small cut, or incision, into your chest to guide it in. For others, open-heart surgery is the best option. This is the most common way to repair or replace your heart valve.
Can medicine reverse regurgitation?
Medicine cannot reverse the actual condition. But it can treat many of the symptoms regurgitation causes and can be used if the leakage isn’t too bad. Depending on what’s going on in your body, your doctor may put you or a loved one on the following: Sometimes, lifestyle changes and medications aren’t enough.
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.
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.
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.
What valve is responsible for causing blood to leak backwards into the left atrium?
In mitral valve regurgitation, the valve between the upper left heart chamber (left atrium) and the lower left heart chamber (left ventricle) doesn't close tightly, causing blood to leak backward into the left atrium (regurgitation).
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 causes a mitral valve to be damaged?
The mitral valve may be damaged by an infection of the lining of the heart (endocarditis) that can involve heart valves. Heart attack. A heart attack can damage the area of the heart muscle that supports the mitral valve, affecting the function of the valve.
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.
Where is the mitral valve located?
The mitral valve is located between the upper left heart chamber (left atrium) and the lower left heart chamber (left ventricle). A healthy mitral valve keeps your blood moving in the right direction. 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.
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 one of four valves in the heart and is composed of two leaflets: the anterior leaflet, which has a semi-circular shape, and the posterior leaflet, which has a quadrangular shape.
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 remodeling, or a change in size, shape, and function, of the left ventricle leading to ventricular dysfunction and ultimately, heart failure.
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 atrium during systole, thereby allowing for the backflow of blood into the left atrium.
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 will not experience symptoms at first. Individuals with a mild case of regurgitation may also be asymptomatic.
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 provider may check for heart murmurs using a stethoscope.
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 over time to ensure that it does not worsen. Certain lifestyle changes, such as a low salt diet and mild to moderate exercise, can help decrease blood pressure and subsequent stress on the heart.
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 a result of the defect, individuals may experience shortness of breath, fatigue, edema (i.e., fluid build-up) and heart palpitations.
How many people have mitral valve regurgitation?
An estimated 4 million people in the U.S. have significant mitral valve regurgitation. About one in 10 people age 75 and older have mitral valve regurgitation.
What happens when mitral regurgitation is severe?
When mitral regurgitation is severe, the blood backs up into the lungs. This leads to congestive heart failure, which causes fatigue, fluid retention and shortness of breath. Additionally, the leakiness of the valve burdens the heart and causes it to work harder. Eventually the heart becomes weakened and enlarged.
What is TMVR in Michigan?
Beaumont was one of the few hospitals in Michigan who participated in the MitraClip research study and was the first hospital in Michigan to implant the FDA approved device in 2013. Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR) is another options for patients with mitral valve disease (mitral valve stenosis or mitral valve regurgitation).
What happens when the left ventricle squeezes?
When the left ventricle squeezes, the mitral valve closes to prevent blood from traveling backwards and re-entering the left atrium and subsequently the lungs. When the two flaps or leaflets of the mitral valve do not close properly, mitral valve regurgitation occurs.
What is the most common form of heart valve disease?
Mitral Valve Regurgitation (Mitral Valve Insufficiency) Mitral valve regurgitation, also known as mitral valve insufficiency or mitral valve incompetence, is the most common form of heart valve disease. An estimated 4 million people in the U.S. have significant mitral valve regurgitation.
How to tell if you have mitral regurgitation?
Following are common symptoms of mitral regurgitation. Symptoms will vary depending on the severity of the condition and how long it has been developing: fatigue. shortness of breath. swollen feet or ankles. rapid, fluttering of heartbeat (heart palpitations) cough, especially when lying down. heart murmur.
Which valve separates the left atrium?
The mitral valve is a one-way valve that separates the left atrium, the heart chamber that receives blood from the lungs, from the left ventricle, the heart chamber that pumps oxygen-rich blood to the body.
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.
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.”.
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.
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.
Is mitral valve surgery life threatening?
If failing health or a weak heart makes open surgery a higher risk for you, there are safer surgical options. “In some situations, mitral valve disease is not life threatening and does not require surgery,” Dr. Kapadia says.
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 ...
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?
What are some examples of valve repair procedures?
Some examples of procedures include: Valve repair, which often includes an annuloplasty which is a ring that is used to tighten or reinforce the leaky valve. Procedures to place a clip on the valve. Surgery to replace the leaking valve with a device made of carbon and metal.
What is the name of the valve between the left ventricle and the aorta?
Aortic valve between the left ventricle and the aorta (main artery in the body). Mitral valve, between the left atrium and the left ventricle. Pulmonary valve, between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. Tricuspid valve, between the right atrium and the right ventricle.
Why does my heart valve not close properly?
A leaky heart valve doesn't close properly when the heart beats. Heart valve leakage can place extra strain on the heart and cause symptoms or even heart failure. If you have symptoms of a leaking heart valve, talk to your healthcare provider.
What is the name of the valve that allows blood to leak backwards into the chamber?
Tricuspid valve, between the right atrium and the right ventricle. A leaky valve allows blood to leak backward into the chamber it came from. Location of the aortic valve, mitral valve, pulmonary valve and tricuspid valve inside your heart.
What is a leaky heart valve?
Leaky Heart Valve (Mitral Valve Regurgitation) The heart valves control blood flow through the heart. A leaky valve doesn’t close properly and can let blood leak through. Some cases are mild, but others place stress on the heart and can cause symptoms, heart failure or cardiac arrest. If needed, there are many ways to repair or replace ...
How many valves does the heart have?
The heart has four valves that open and close when the heart beats. They control blood flow through the four chambers of the heart so that blood goes in only one direction. But a valve may not close properly and lets blood through. That’s called a leaky heart valve, heart valve regurgitation or valve insufficiency.
How to diagnose a leaky heart valve?
To diagnose a leaky heart valve, your healthcare provider will use several strategies. Diagnosis usually includes a physical exam and some heart tests. During a physical exam, the healthcare provider will: Ask you about your symptoms and how long they’ve been happening. Ask you about your medical history.
What is valve regurgitation?
What's valve regurgitation? Regurgitation is the name for leaking heart valves. Sometimes the condition is minor and may not require treatment. At other times valve regurgitation places a strain on the heart.
What is a leaking mitral valve?
A leaking (regurgitant) mitral valve allows blood to flow in two directions during the contraction. Some blood flows from the ventricle through the aortic valve – as it should – and some blood flows back into the atrium through the defective valve. A leaking aortic valve allows blood to flow in two directions. ...
What causes tricuspid regurgitation?
Tricuspid regurgitation is more commonly caused by an enlarged lower chamber on the right side of the heart, but it may also develop in response to other valve problems on the left side of the heart that end up straining the entire system.
What is the name of the valve that leaks blood backwards?
Read more about regurgitation and specific valves: Mitral regurgitation is leakage of blood backward through the mitral valve each time the left ventricle contracts. Aortic valve regurgitation may stem from a congenital heart defect, complications of an infection or other more rare causes. Pulmonary or pulmonic regurgitation is more rare ...
Why does regurgitation happen?
It can cause the heart to work harder and it may not pump the same amount of blood. Regurgitation occurs when: Blood flows back through the valve as the leaflets are closing, or. Blood leaks through the leaflets that don't close correctly.
How does a leaking aortic valve work?
A leaking aortic valve allows blood to flow in two directions. Oxygen-rich blood either flows out through the aorta to the body – as it should – or it flows backward from the aorta through the defective valve into the left ventricle when the ventricle relaxes.
Diagnosis
Clinical Trials
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
Coping and Support
Specialist to consult
Preparing For Your Appointment
- Your doctor will ask about your medical history and your family history of heart disease. Your doctor will also perform a physical exam that includes listening to your heart with a stethoscope. Mitral valve regurgitation usually produces a sound of blood leaking backward through the mitra…