Mitral Valve Regurgitation and Mitral Valve Replacement

Mitral Regurgitation [MR] is the abnormal back flow or leaking of blood from the left ventricle to the left atrium through the mitral valve.

This is also called “Mitral Insufficiency”. In this condition mitral valve does not close completely. Similar to Mitral Valve stenosis, regurgitation also increases the size of the left atrium. Untreated MR can also lead to heart failure. Patients are usually asymtpomatic with mild Mitral Regurgitation. Patients with moderate to severe MR have abnormal rhythm problems and shortness of breath.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is one of the most common valve diseases. About 1 in 5 (20%) of all people over 55 years of age, undergoing an echocardiogram, have some extent of mitral valve regurgitation. It occurs in about 5 of 10,000 people in the United States. Mitral Valve prolapse and Myxomatous degeneration are the main cause of MR in the western world unlike the other developing countries where rheumatic heart disease is still the principal cause.

Mitral regurgitation can be acute or chronic. Acute MR is frequently caused by a myocardial Infarction [heart attack] or trauma that causes a rupture of the chordae tendinae. The left ventricular blood flow and volume increases, creating an increase in the left atrial pressure. This can lead to dyspnea or shortness of breath, acute pulmonary edema or even cardiogenic shock. 80% mortality rate is associated with acute mitral regurgitation.