Medication
What is life expectancy after mitral valve repair? Median survival after MV ‐repair was 7.8 years, close to 8.5 years (95% CI : 8.2–9.4) in the age‐matched UK population (ratio 0.9). Rate of re‐operation for MV ‐dysfunction was 2.3% versus 2.5% (mitral valve replacement, P’=’1.0).
Procedures
Surgery or another procedure to repair or replace a mitral valve may be done if you have mitral valve disease such as: Mitral valve regurgitation. The flaps (leaflets) of the mitral valve don't close tightly, causing blood to leak backward. Mitral valve regurgitation is common in people with mitral valve prolapse.
Self-care
- 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
Nutrition
There are no medications to correct a mitral valve defect. However, medicines can help reduce the symptoms by relaxing the heart’s workload and correcting the rhythm. For this purpose, your doctor may prescribe you with medications like diuretics, blood thinners, beta blockers, antiarrhythmics and/or antibiotics, according to your condition.
What is life expectancy after mitral valve repair?
When does mitral valve prolapse require surgery?
When and how to treat a leaky mitral valve?
What does the treatment for mitral valve prolapse include?
Can you repair mitral valve without open-heart surgery?
Mitral valve repair and mitral valve replacement may be done as an open-heart surgery procedure or as minimally invasive heart surgery. Sometimes a mitral valve problem may be treated with a catheter-based procedure.
What is the success rate of mitral valve repair?
With proper patient selection and timely intervention, the estimated success rate of mitral valve repair surgery is around 95%. Almost 95% of patients are free of reoperation for 10 years. At 20 years, around 90% of people do not need reoperation for mitral valve repair.
Can a prolapsed mitral valve heal itself?
Unfortunately, heart valves do not tend to heal themselves. It is true that some infants born with heart murmurs will eventually grow out of the murmur as the heart matures.
Is mitral valve repair major surgery?
Open mitral valve repair is major surgery that requires general anesthesia. This means the anesthesiologist will give you medicine to make you fall asleep and prevent you from feeling any pain. Any general anesthesia involves risks, including the risk of heart or brain injury.
Can I live a normal life after mitral valve repair?
Overall 1‐ and 5‐year survival was 90.7%, 74.2% versus 81.3%, 61.0% (P<0.01). Median survival after MV ‐repair was 7.8 years, close to 8.5 years (95% CI : 8.2–9.4) in the age‐matched UK population (ratio 0.9). Rate of re‐operation for MV ‐dysfunction was 2.3% versus 2.5% (mitral valve replacement, P=1.0).
How long is hospital stay after mitral valve repair?
Typically, you will be in the hospital for 3 to 10 days, depending on how quickly you recover. Many patients are amazed at how much better they feel and how soon they can resume normal activities.
How do you prevent mitral valve prolapse from getting worse?
Lifestyle and home remediesManage blood pressure. Control of high blood pressure is important if you have mitral valve regurgitation.Eat a heart-healthy diet. ... Get regular exercise. ... Maintain a healthy weight. ... Prevent infective endocarditis. ... Avoid or limit alcohol. ... Avoid tobacco. ... Get regular health checkups.
What should I avoid if I have mitral valve prolapse?
Limit your consumption of sodium, saturated and trans fats, added sugars, and alcohol. And load up on veggies, fruits, whole grains, lean meats, fish, legumes, and vegetable oils. These are the foundation of what's often referred to as a “heart-healthy diet.”
What is the average age for heart valve replacement?
Fact: Valve Replacement and Heart Bypass surgery (or a combination of the two) are the most common procedures in the “elderly.” Fact: More than 30% of the patients having heart valve surgery are over 70. Fact: More than 20% of heart valve surgical patients are over 75 years of age.
Do you feel better after mitral valve repair?
You will probably be able to do many of your usual activities after 4 to 6 weeks. But for at least 6 weeks, you will not be able to lift heavy objects or do activities that strain your chest or upper arm muscles. At first you may notice that you get tired easily and need to rest often.
What happens if you don't have mitral valve surgery?
For patients like Kimble with mitral valve regurgitation, the flaps of the valve fail to close completely, causing blood to travel backward into the left atrium of the heart. Without treatment, the heart muscle can become weak or damaged.
How do I know if my mitral valve prolapse is getting worse?
However, some people develop symptoms that get worse over time. These symptoms can vary from person to person, but may include the following: palpitations, or the feeling of the heart skipping a beat or beating too hard. a racing heart....Complicationsheart failure.arrhythmias.infection of the inner tissues of the heart.
What is the best treatment for mitral valve prolapse?
Some medications you might be prescribed include: Beta blockers. These drugs help prevent irregular heartbeats by making your heart beat more slowly and with less force, which reduces your blood pressure.
What is the procedure to repair a mitral valve?
Surgery involves repairing or replacing the mitral valve. Valve repair and replacement may be performed using open-heart surgery or minimally invasive surgery. Minimally invasive surgery involves smaller incisions and may have less blood loss and a quicker recovery time.
Why do you have to do a stress test for mitral valve regurgitation?
In a stress test, you exercise or take certain medications to increase your heart rate and make your heart work harder.
Do you need antibiotics for mitral valve regurgitation?
However, the American Heart Association has said antibiotics are no longer necessary in most cases for someone with mitral valve regurgitation or mitral valve prolapse. If you've been told to take antibiotics before any procedures in the past, check with your doctor about whether it's still necessary.
Can mitral valve prolapse cause heart failure?
Though most people with mitral valve prolapse don't need surgery, your doctor may suggest surgical treatment if you have severe mitral valve regurgitation, whether you have symptoms or not. Severe mitral valve regurgitation can eventually cause heart failure, preventing your heart from effectively pumping blood.
Can mitral valve regurgitation be treated?
Most people with mitral valve prolapse, particularly people without symptoms, don't require treatment. If you have mitral valve regurgitation but don't have symptoms, your doctor may suggest you return regularly for follow-up examinations to monitor your condition, depending on the severity of your condition.
Can a surgeon replace a heart valve?
Your surgeon may also reinforce the ring around the heart valve to prevent blood from leaking backward. If mitral valve repair isn't possible, your surgeon may replace it with an artificial valve that is man-made (mechanical) or is made from human tissue or taken from cows or pigs.
What is the mitral valve prolapse?
Mitral valve prolapse is a condition in which one or both portions of the valve are “loose” so that the valve does not close completely when the heart contracts. This allows the blood to go backwards through the heart, leading to inefficient heart function ...
Why do mitral valves have no symptoms?
Most patients with mitral valve prolapse have no symptoms because only a small amount of blood leaks through the abnormal valve.
What happens if a heart attack occurs in the portion of the heart where the mitral valve is attached?
If a heart attack occurs in the portion of the heart where the mitral valve is attached, then the valve becomes dysfunctional and starts to leak. When significant valve leakage is left untreated, the heart gets weaker, enlarges and congestive heart failure sets in.
What are the symptoms of a leaky mitral valve?
However, when the amount of leakage through the valve becomes excessive, symptoms develop. These include chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness or fainting spells. Other heart conditions also can cause a leaky mitral valve, the most common of which is myocardial infarction, or heart attack. If a heart attack occurs in the portion of ...
What is the most common valve abnormality in the heart?
Mitral valve prolapse is the most common valve abnormality of the heart, affecting up to 10% of the population. Most patients with mitral valve prolapse have no symptoms or very mild symptoms and require no treatment.
Which valve is responsible for directing blood to the left ventricle?
The mitral valve is a one-way valve directing blood from the left atrium — the upper chamber of the heart — to the left ventricle, the main pumping chamber of the heart. The mitral valve, made up of two “sail-like” structures called leaflets, is supposed to close when the heart beats.
Is mitral valve repair better than replacement?
However, mitral valve repair has many advantages over replacement of the valve. These include better heart function after surgery, fewer risks of future strokes or valve infections, and a lower mortality rate.
What is the mitral valve prolapse?
Mitral valve prolapse is a type of myxomatous valve disease. The tissue of the mitral valve leaflets and chordae are abnormally stretchy, so that as the heart beats, the mitral valve bows or flops back into the left atrium.
What to do if you have valve disease?
Tell your doctors and dentist you have valve disease. You may want to carry a card with this information. Call your doctor if you have symptoms of an infection (sore throat, general body achiness, and fever). Colds and flus do not cause endocarditis. But, infections, which may have the same symptoms, do.
What are the symptoms of a valve leak?
bursts of rapid heartbeat (palpitations) chest discomfort. easily tired (fatigue) dizziness. shortness of breath. anxiety. Symptoms do not always relate to how serious your MVP is. You may have frequent symptoms, yet diagnostic tests may show your valve leak is not significant.
What is MVP in heart?
MVP is called the click-murmur sound because the doctor will hear a click and a murmur (abnormal blood flow through the valve) as the valve leaflets bow back into left atrium with each heartbeat. Other tests used to diagnose valve disease may include : Echocardiography. Transesophageal echocardiography.
How to prevent endocarditis?
Good oral health is generally more effective in reducing your risk of bacterial endocarditis than is taking preventive antibiotics before certain procedures. Take good care of your teeth and gums.
Is MVP a cause for concern?
In this case, MVP is not a cause for concern. A small percentage of people with mitral valve prolapse have severe MVP, requiring further treatment. Mitral valve prolapse is very common, affecting about three to five percent of the population. Females are affected twice as often as males.
Can a mitral valve leak?
Those with mitral valve prolapse may not have any regurgitation (leaky valve) or they may have a range of severity from a mild leak to a very floppy, leaky valve. The majority of people have no leak or a mild leak. In this case, MVP is not a cause for concern.
What is a prolapsed mitral valve?
Mitral valve prolapse is a common condition in which the mitral valve leaflets are floppy or loose. Mitral valve prolapse is diagnosed by echocardiography. Most patients with mitral valve prolapse do not have a leaky valve and do not require surgery.
What is the procedure for mitral valve repair?
Many patients with mitral valve disease have atrial fibrillation, (an abnormal heart rhythm.) For these patients, at the time of mitral valve repair, Cleveland Clinic surgeons perform an ablation (Maze procedure) with the intent of curing the atrial fibrillation. In some patients with atrial fibrillation, a sternotomy (standard) ...
What causes mitral regurgitation?
The most common cause of mitral regurgitation is a condition called degenerative mitral valve disease —this is also called mitral valve prolapse, myxomatous mitral valve disease, and a floppy mitral valve. Such valves can be repaired (rather than replaced) in more than 95% of patients. Cleveland Clinic heart surgeons have ...
What is a Gore-Tex suture?
A Gore-Tex® suture is affixed to the head of the papillary muscle and then passed through the free edge of the unsupported anterior leaflet, providing support.
What is the grade of a leak in a regurgitation?
In most facilities, the regurgitation (leak) is graded on a scale from 0 to 4, with 0 being no leak and 4 being a severe leak. Surgery should be considered in virtually all patients with a leak that is graded as a 4 (severe) and in some patients with a leak that is graded as a 3 (moderately severe).
Can you reoperation after mitral valve repair?
Thus, reoperation is uncommon after a successful mitral valve repair. An echocardiogram is recommended annually to assess valve function. In addition, patients who had valve surgery must take steps to prevent infection and reduce the risk of endocarditis (an infection of the valve).
Can a Cleveland Clinic surgeon repair a leaking mitral valve?
In these re-operative settings, Cleveland Clinic surgeons can safely and effectively repair nearly all leaking mitral valves.
What is the primary form of mitral valve prolapse?
The primary form of Mitral Valve Prolapse is seen frequently in people with Marfan's Syndrome or other inherited connective tissue diseases , but is most often seen in people with no other form of heart disease. Secondary Mitral Valve Prolapse.
What is the most useful diagnostic test for mitral valve prolapse?
The echo sound waves create an image on the monitor as an ultrasound transducer is passed over the heart. Echocardiography is the most useful diagnostic test for Mitral Valve Prolapse.
What causes secondary mitral valve prolapse?
Secondary Mitral Valve Prolapse may result from damage to valvular structures during acute myocardial infarction, rheumatic heart disease , or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (occurs when the muscle mass of the left ventricle of the heart is larger than normal).
How to tell if a mitral valve is a murmur?
Mitral Valve Prolapse may be detected by listening with a stethoscope, revealing a "click" (created by the stretched flaps snapping against each other during contraction) and/or a murmur.
What is the name of the bulging of the left mitral valve?
What You Need to Know. Mitral valve prolapse, also known as click-murmur syndrome, Barlow's syndrome, balloon mitral valve, or floppy valve syndrome, is the bulging of one or both of the mitral valve flaps (leaflets) into the left atrium during the contraction of the heart. One or both of the flaps may not close properly, ...
Why is my mitral valve prolapse not thickened?
The prolapse may be due to ischemic damage (caused by decreased blood flow as a result of coronary artery disease) to the papillary muscles attached to the chordae tendineae or to functional changes in the myocardium.
What causes a murmur in the left atrium?
The murmur is caused by some of the blood leaking back into the left atrium. The click or murmur may be the only clinical sign. In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic procedures for Mitral Valve Prolapse may include any, or a combination, of the following: Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG).
How many people have mitral valve prolapse?
It is estimated that two to four percent of the population has a mitral valve prolapse of some degree. It is also likely that there is a genetic component to MVP since it seems to run in families. Many people live their whole lives without symptoms.
Where is the mitral valve located?
The mitral valve is located in the heart's left ventricle between the upper and lower chambers. This valve has a right and left section that open to allow blood to move from the upper atrium and the lower ventricle on the left side of the heart, and then close to prevent the backflow of blood. Tetra Images / Erik Isakson / Brand X Pictures / Getty ...
What is the term for the backflow of blood from the ventricle to the atrium?
Mitral Regurgitation. Mitral regurgitation is the backflow of blood from the ventricle to the atrium. Mitral regurgitation can lead to enlargement of the cardiac chamber, the weakening of the heart muscle, and, in some cases, heart failure.
What does it mean when a heart valve is loose?
The term prolapse means that the valve is loose and a little floppy so that it doesn't shut as firmly as it should. It may close with a faint click or may permit a tiny amount of blood to leak through, producing a heart murmur . A large prolapse can allow blood to seep back into the heart’s top chamber.
How to know if you have MVP?
A person with MVP should monitor their heart rate and other symptoms and slow down if they feel their heart racing or lightheaded or faint. Those who experience chest pains, heart palpitations or other significant symptoms of MVP are sometimes given beta-blockers to slow the heart rate during exercise. Rarely is someone discouraged ...
Is mitral valve prolapse a progressive disease?
This is called mitral regurgitation or a "leaky valve.". Mitral valve prolapse is generally not considered to be life-threatening or progressive. It is regarded by most as one of the more benign forms of a heart murmur. Mitral Valve Prolapse and Sudden Death.
Can you exercise with a prolapsed mitral valve?
Rarely is someone discouraged from exercise because of a mitral valve prolapse. Treatment for MVP varies depending upon the extent of the prolapse, so it's important to discuss your individual symptoms with your physician before starting an exercise plan.
Why It's Done
Risks
How You Prepare
What You Can Expect
Specialist to consult
Results
Clinical Trials
- Possible risks of mitral valve repair and mitral valve replacement surgery include: 1. Bleeding 2. Blood clots 3. Malfunction of the replacement valve 4. Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) 5. Infection 6. Stroke 7. Death
Treatment
- Before mitral valve repair or replacement, an echocardiogram and other tests may be done to get more details about your heart condition. Your care providers will review what to expect during surgery and discuss any concerns you may have. As you prepare for mitral valve repair or replacement, it can be helpful to talk to your loved ones about your hospital stay and what help y…
Health
- Surgery to repair or replace the mitral valve is done at a hospital by a heart (cardiac) surgeon. If you need heart surgery for another condition in addition to mitral valve disease, the surgeon may perform both surgeries at the same time.
Symptoms
- Mitral valve repair and replacement surgery may help reduce symptoms and improve quality of life in people with mitral valve disease. If you had mitral valve replacement with a mechanical valve, you'll need blood thinners for life to prevent blood clots. Biological tissue valves break down (degenerate) over time and usually need to be replaced. Regular health checkups are needed to …
Diagnosis
- Explore Mayo Clinic studiesof tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions.
Clinical significance
Causes
Advantages