Surgical repair or replacement of the mitral valve can often provide a long-term solution for mitral valve regurgitation, offering durable treatment and the potential for returning to a normal life expectancy. In certain cases, less invasive surgical and catheter-based treatments may also be suitable. These technologies are continuously advancing.
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How is mitral valve regurgitation diagnosed?
To diagnose mitral valve regurgitation, your doctor will perform a physical exam. They'll listen to your heart with a stethoscope, ask you about symptoms of mitral valve regurgitation like shortness of breath, and check for swelling, especially in the extremities.
Mitral regurgitation is usually diagnosed with a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). This test uses ultrasound technology, similar to what is used during pregnancy, to look at your heart in real time. The sonographer can assess your heart’s function, including how your valves are working and how blood flows through your heart.
If the severity of the regurgitation is unclear, your surgeons and cardiologists may perform additional tests, such as a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE). These further evaluations help make sure that you receive the most appropriate treatment.
Other possible tests that may be used to create your treatment plan include:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): This test records the electrical activity of your heart through small sensors (electrodes) attached to your chest and arms.
- CT scan: A 3D X-ray that shows your heart from all angles.
- MRI: A test using magnetic fields to produce high-quality images of the heart.
- Exercise tests: Stress tests, such as walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike, can provide information about how your heart performs during exercise.
- Cardiac catheterization: Catheterization techniques allow doctors to insert special tools into your arteries. They may use this technique to get a different view of what's happening inside your heart or to place dyes that make the heart show up more clearly on other scans.
How fast does mitral valve regurgitation progress?
It isn't easy to give a definitive timeline. The speed at which mitral valve regurgitation progresses depends on the cause of your mitral regurgitation and factors such as your age, medical history, and lifestyle. An echocardiogram can allow doctors to track the amount of blood that leaks through the valve and monitor the progression of your individual case.
The severity of your case will determine how often you need to have your heart checked with an echocardiogram. Mild cases may be monitored every 3-5 years. As the condition progresses, you'll get checks more frequently.
Mitral valve regurgitation treatments
The treatment for mitral valve regurgitation depends on the severity of the condition and whether it is causing symptoms. The first step is determining whether you have mild or severe regurgitation and whether it involves degenerative mitral valve disease. For patients with degenerative valve disease, our centers offer the latest in minimally invasive and surgical repair techniques.
Mild mitral regurgitation treatment
Trace and mild mitral valve regurgitation may not require treatment. Often, the mildest forms of the condition don't cause discomfort and don't interfere with the heart's function in significant ways. Your doctor may recommend regular monitoring and managing any underlying conditions that could worsen the regurgitation. As mitral valve regurgitation progresses, you may need treatment.
Severe mitral valve regurgitation treatment
For more severe cases of mitral valve regurgitation, treatment is often necessary to improve symptoms and prevent serious complications like congestive heart failure.
Treatments for mitral valve regurgitation can include medicines called beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors (which lessen the workload on the heart), medicines that slow your heart rate, and medicines to manage symptoms like swelling.
As your condition progresses, surgery may be the best option to reduce symptoms and lower your risk of serious complications like congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation, which can cause strokes. Modern surgical treatment for mitral valve regurgitation uses minimally invasive techniques when possible, to reduce your recovery time and complications.
Mitral valve repair can be done in two main ways:
- Minimally invasive mitral valve repair: A procedure that uses small incisions to fix the mitral valve, offering quicker recovery, less pain, and shorter hospital stays compared to traditional surgery.
- Mitral valve clip: For patients who are not eligible for surgery, or in certain cases of non-primary mitral regurgitation, a transcatheter option can be considered. In this procedure, a clip is placed on the mitral valve to help close it more completely. This option is evaluated by a comprehensive valve team.
If mitral valve repair is not an option, your doctor may recommend mitral valve replacement surgery. This involves replacing the damaged valve with a mechanical or biological valve.
Our centers are at the forefront of mitral valve repair and replacement, offering patients with degenerative valve disease the latest advancements in treatment to restore heart function and improve quality of life.
FAQs about mitral valve regurgitation
Trace and mild cases of mitral regurgitation aren't usually cause for worry, especially in the short term. If your doctor diagnoses you with trace or mild mitral regurgitation, you should get regular checks to see how it progresses, but you may not have symptoms, and it probably won't interfere with your day-to-day life.
In about half of patients, mitral valve regurgitation progresses (gets worse over time), but about 11% of patients experience spontaneous regression of the condition and improvement of symptoms.
Important signs of mitral regurgitation include shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and swelling in your extremities, and weight gain. Learn more about the causes and symptoms of mitral valve regurgitation.
Mitral valve regurgitation can worsen with lifestyle factors under your control, including:
- Bad diet
- Insufficient exercise
- Poor or insufficient sleep
- Alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs
High blood pressure can also worsen mitral regurgitation, but can be mitigated with medicines and the same lifestyle factors that improve mitral regurgitation.
Also, while exercise is an essential preventative measure for heart disease, mitral regurgitation makes physical activity more difficult. Talk to your doctor about an exercise regimen or any training you plan to pursue. Depending on the progression of your condition, they may recommend avoiding high-intensity exercise or competitive sports.
Learn more about the benefits of regular exercise for heart health.
