Mitral Regurgitation
When left atrium contracts to pump blood to left ventricle, the leaky mitral valve is allowing blood to leak into left atrium.
There are many different causes.
- Valve generation (wear and tear)
- Inherent Floppy valve
- Damage to valve resulting from infection
- Congenital condition affecting valve function
- Heart attack causing valve dysfunction
It can be acute or chronic.
Acute condition can be devastating, resulting in heart failure or in severe cases death. It requires emergent intervention.
Chronic conditions: most patient do not have any symptoms. If the leak is significant, patient can have exertional breathlessness, water in the lungs and/or swollen ankles.
Diagnosis and treatment
It is usually diagnosed with an echocardiogram. Echocardiogram is similar to what I call gel test similar to scanning one’s tummy during pregnancy but it is done on the chest. It is generally painless; however, some patients feel mild discomfort during the process. The images show the size of your heart and how well it pumps, and whether the heart valves are working properly.
It is not possible to reverse mitral regurgitation through lifestyle changes or medications.
Surveillance
Chronic Mitral Regurgitation needs follow up. In severe mitral regurgitation, symptoms and/or changes in the heart structure (heart is getting bigger due to the leak) are the reasons for intervention – mitral valve surgery.