Mitral Valve Prolapse & Treatment
The mitral valve controls blood flow through the left side of the heart. When it opens, the mitral valve allows blood to flow into the left ventricle -- the heart’s main pumping chamber. When the left ventricle contracts, the mitral valve closes in order to prevent blood from flowing back toward the lungs.
Sometimes the mitral valve is abnormal from birth. It can also become damaged by infection, with age or from heart disease.
What is Mitral Valve Prolapse?
If the mitral valve leaflets cannot tightly seal the left ventricle, this is called prolapse. With mitral valve prolapse, some blood flows back into the atrium – a condition called regurgitation. Regurgitation can make the heart work harder, leading to further valve damage and increasing the risk of heart failure.
Mitral Valve Prolapse Treatment Options
The treatment options available to a person with mitral valve prolapse depend on the severity of the condition. Some patients may not require any intervention. Others may be prescribed medications.
However, if your symptoms become severe, your doctor may recommend mitral valve prolapse surgery. There are two basic types of valve prolapse surgery: valve repair and valve replacement. In valve replacement, your surgeon cuts out the damaged valve and replaces it with a new, artificial valve. Valve repair involves the surgeon reconstructing your valve using your own tissues.
A new category of minimally invasive surgery, utilizing the robotic assistance of the da Vinci® Surgical System, is rewriting the book on mitral valve prolapse surgery. Learn more about da Vinci Mitral Valve Prolapse Surgery to help determine if it is the right option for you.
Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.
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