Mitral regurgitation surgery

Mitral regurgitation surgery
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For the WikiPatient page for this topic, click here

For the main page of mitral regurgitation, click here

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Mohammed A. Sbeih, M.D. [2]; Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [3]; Varun Kumar, M.B.B.S.; Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S.

Anterior (frontal) view of the opened heart. White arrows indicate normal blood flow. (Mitral valve labeled at center right.)

Treatments for Mitral valve regurgitation

The choice of treatment depends on the symptoms present and the condition and function of the heart. Patients with high blood pressure or a weakened heart muscle may be given medications to reduce the strain on the heart and help improve the condition.

Anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications (blood thinners) may be used to prevent clots from forming in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Digitalis may be used to strengthen the heartbeat, along with diuretics (water pills) to remove excess fluid in the lungs.

A low-sodium diet may be helpful. Most people have no symptoms; but if a person develops symptoms, activity may be restricted.

Hospitalization may be required for diagnosis and treatment of severe symptoms. Surgical repair or replacement of the valve is recommended if heart function is poor, symptoms are severe, or the condition gets worse. Once the diagnosis of mitral regurgitation is made, the patient should have regular follow-ups with a specialist to determine whether he or she need surgery.

In the past, patients with heart valve problems such as mitral regurgitation were given antibiotics before dental work or an invasive procedure, such as colonoscopy. The antibiotics were given to prevent an infection of the damaged heart valve. However, antibiotics are now used much less often before dental work and other procedures.

Possible complications

Risks for any surgery

• Blood clots in the legs that may travel to the lungs.
• Blood loss.
• Breathing problems.
• Infection, including in the lungs, kidneys, bladder, chest, or heart valves.
• Reactions to medicines.

Possible risks from having open-heart surgery

• Heart attack or stroke.
• Heart rhythm problems.
• Infection in the cut, which is more likely to happen in people who are obese, have diabetes, or have already had this surgery.
• Memory loss and loss of mental clarity, or "fuzzy thinking."
• Post-pericardiotomy syndrome, which is a low-grade fever and chest pain. This could last for up to 6 months.

Prosthetic heart valves are associated with a variety of complications

• Structural deterioration, particularly with bioprosthetic valves.
• Valve obstruction due to thrombosis or pannus formation.
• Systemic embolization.
• Bleeding.
• Endocarditis and other infections.
• Left ventricular systolic dysfunction, which may be preexisting.
• Hemolytic anemia.

Videos

• Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (Right thoracotomy approach video)

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• Robotic mitral valve repair surgery animation-(1)

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• Robotic mitral valve repair surgery animation-(2)

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External links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitral_valve#cite_note-0

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000176.htm

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hs/before.html

http://www.mayoclinic.org/mitral-valve-disease/

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007411.htm

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hs/during.html

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hs/after.html