Mitral Regurgitation
Your heart works hard every second of the day, pumping the necessary amount of blood throughout your body. It has four valves that play an important role in that process, one of which is called the mitral valve.
The mitral valve has two thin leaflets of tissue that open and close when the heart beats to ensure blood flow in one direction. Mitral regurgitation occurs when the mitral valve fails to close completely, allowing blood to leak backward. One type of mitral regurgitation is called degenerative, or primary, mitral regurgitation and can be related to age, underlying heart disease, or a birth defect. The other type is called functional, or secondary, mitral regurgitation and occurs when your left ventricle becomes enlarged from heart disease.
Your doctor will measure your regurgitation as mild, moderate or severe. Severe mitral regurgitation places an extra burden on your heart and lungs. Over time your heart might enlarge due to this increased workload. Mitral regurgitation worsens over time. If untreated, mitral regurgitation can cause other, more serious problems to your heart including heart failure.
In some cases patients do not have symptoms related to this backflow of blood. In other cases, you may experience the following symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue or reduced energy
- Swollen feet and ankles
- Fainting
- Dry, hacking cough
- Irregular heartbeat
- Abnormal heart sound (heart murmur)
Patients often express concern that it is harder for them to participate in regular activities like walking to get the mail, climbing stairs or performing household chores. It is important to tell your doctor if you have symptoms.
What Are the Treatment Options for Severe Mitral Regurgitation?
It is important to remember that medication cannot stop the progression or cure the disease; it can only treat the symptoms. Valve repair or replacement is the only effective treatment option, and an evaluation will help determine what option is best for you.
- Surgical Mitral Valve Replacement
- Your old valve is removed and a new one is replaced with either a mechanical or tissue valve. For surgical replacement, a surgeon will make an incision, opening the breast bone and replace the valve with either a tissue or mechanical valve. A heart-lung machine takes over the job of circulating blood throughout the body during the procedure.
- Surgical Mitral Valve Repair
- For surgical repair, a surgeon will make an incision, opening the breast bone and reconnecting the valve leaflets, replacing the cords that support the valve, or removing excess valve tissue so that the leaflets close. A heart-lung machine takes over the job of circulating blood throughout the body during the procedure.
- Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair (MitraClip)
- This minimally invasive procedure is suitable for patients with severe mitral regurgitation when open-heart surgery is not a viable option. A physician will insert a small tube within a vein in your leg to reach your heart. The clip device is then positioned within your heart in order to bring opposite sides of the valve closer together, thus reducing the backflow of blood.
