You should see your primary care physician or a cardiologist if you experience symptoms thought to be related to mitral valve prolapse. For example, if you frequently have shortness of breath or irregular heartbeats, mention it to your primary care physician during your next annual check-up.
You can also schedule an appointment sooner if your symptoms are severe, and you should definitely see a doctor right away if symptoms are getting worse. If your doctor hears an irregular murmur with their stethoscope, they will probably order an echocardiogram imaging test to confirm whether you have MVP. The most common treatment option for people with severe MVP is surgery.
There are two options your doctor may discuss with you if he or she thinks you should have surgery:. With both of these surgical procedures, there are different ways the surgeon can approach it, including:. The specific type of surgery that will work best for you depends on several factors.
Your doctor will review your medical history and whether they think they can repair your existing mitral valve, or if it will require a full replacement. If you need a mitral valve replacement you will have to be on a blood thinner for at least several months, and possibly for the rest of your life. As with any surgical procedure, the most common complications from a mitral valve repair or replacement surgery include risks of:.
Mitral valve repairs may also fail, and if they do you will need an additional surgery to replace your mitral valve at a later time. According to Dr. Selzman, not every cardiac surgeon knows how to perform a mitral valve repair or replacement surgery. Even those who do it a few times a year might not have a lot of experience, which can increase the risk of complications. As a regional tertiary and quaternary cardiac care center, surgeons see more patients with complex health conditions and perform more mitral valve surgeries every year, leading to better outcomes.
People with mitral valve prolapse often do not need treatment. However, a doctor may recommend treatment if a person with mitral valve prolapse is experiencing symptoms or has a significant amount of blood regurgitating into the left atrium.
Several treatment options are available depending on the severity of the prolapse and symptoms. Treatments include the following options:.
In most cases, mindful management is sufficient to treat mitral valve prolapse. With this approach, a person with mitral valve prolapse will visit their doctor regularly for checkups and report any new symptoms that suggest that the condition is getting worse.
They may also get regular echocardiograms. If a person has a more severe case of mitral valve prolapse that causes symptoms, a doctor may prescribe medications to help manage the condition, although this approach has limited effectiveness.
A doctor may prescribe drugs called beta-blockers for people who only experience palpitations with minimal backflow. For more significant symptoms or backflow, a doctor may prescribe a combination of medications, including:.
A doctor will generally only recommend surgery if a large amount of blood is moving back up into the atrium and causing severe symptoms or leading to other, more serious complications. A surgeon might use open-heart surgery or a less invasive technique.
The options for surgery include:. In most cases, mitral valve prolapse is not serious or life-threatening. Many people who have the condition experience no symptoms at all. A recent Italian clinical trial discovered that a low-calorie vegetarian diet may be as effective at reducing cardiovascular risk as a low-calorie…. Contrary to the belief that some fat protects the heart, a new study finds that losing fat in the thighs, hips, and buttocks lowers cardiovascular….
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What to know about mitral valve prolapse. Medically reviewed by Dr. Payal Kohli, M. What is mitral valve prolapse? They may include:. Mitral valve regurgitation. The most common complication is a condition in which the valve leaks blood back into the left atrium. If regurgitation is severe, you may need surgery to repair or replace the valve in order to prevent heart failure.
Heart rhythm problems arrhythmias. Irregular heart rhythms most commonly occur in the upper chambers of the heart. They may be bothersome, but aren't usually life-threatening. People with severe mitral valve regurgitation or severe deformity of their mitral valve are most at risk of having rhythm problems, which can affect blood flow through the heart.
Heart valve infection endocarditis. The inside of your heart is lined by a thin membrane called the endocardium. Endocarditis is an infection of this inner lining. An abnormal mitral valve increases your chance of getting endocarditis from bacteria, which can further damage the mitral valve. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Mitral valve prolapse and regurgitation Open pop-up dialog box Close.
Mitral valve prolapse and regurgitation The mitral valve separates the two chambers atrium and ventricle of the left side of the heart. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Pislaru S, et al. Definition and diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse. Accessed Dec. Mitral valve prolapse. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Ferri FF.
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