Does severe mitral valve regurgitation require surgery?

Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
Updated on September 09, 2024
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Severe mitral valve regurgitation requires surgical treatment, with options including mitral valve repair or replacement surgery. If left untreated, severe mitral regurgitation can lead to enlargement of the left ventricle and a reduction in the heart's ejection fraction, resulting in decreased pumping function and symptoms of heart failure. Patients may experience symptoms such as difficulty breathing, fatigue, and nocturnal paroxysmal dyspnea. Severe cases might even exhibit symptoms of acute left heart failure, such as orthopnea, profuse sweating, and coughing up pink frothy sputum. These symptoms typically necessitate hospitalization, which not only adds unnecessary financial burdens but also severely impacts the patient’s quality of life.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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Severe mitral regurgitation indicators

The criteria for judging mitral valve regurgitation mainly depend on the percentage of the regurgitation area in relation to the left atrial area. If the area of mitral regurgitation exceeds 40% of the left atrial area, it is medically termed as severe regurgitation. If it is below 20%, it is considered mild regurgitation. Generally, patients with severe regurgitation require surgical treatment. This treatment can be conducted through mitral valve replacement surgery or mitral valve repair surgery. Surgical treatment can effectively prevent the occurrence of heart failure, thereby improving the quality of life and extending the patient's lifespan.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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The causes of embolism in mitral stenosis

Mitral stenosis in patients can lead to embolism due to the tendency of mitral stenosis to cause enlargement of the left atrium. The enlargement of the left atrium is a key anatomical factor leading to atrial fibrillation and cardiac arrhythmias. When atrial fibrillation occurs, it is easy for blood clots to form in the left atrium, especially in the area of the left atrial appendage. When a blood clot breaks off, it can travel with the bloodstream and cause occlusion of the corresponding blood vessels, resulting in embolic complications. Timely surgical intervention to treat mitral stenosis can effectively prevent complications such as atrial enlargement and blood clots caused by mitral stenosis.

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Written by Chen Tian Hua
Cardiology
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Mild regurgitation of the mitral and tricuspid valves, what's the cause?

Mild regurgitation of the mitral and tricuspid valves, if seen in healthy individuals without related organic diseases, mainly occurs due to the physiological aging of the mitral and tricuspid valves as age increases. This results in slight insufficiency during ventricular contraction, leading to mild regurgitation. This condition is not pathological and does not require treatment, nor does it lead to adverse consequences. However, if the mild regurgitation of the mitral and tricuspid valves is accompanied by an organic disease that causes ventricular enlargement, the cardiac enlargement and annular dilation result in relative regurgitation due to the organic disease. It is necessary to actively control the underlying disease to prevent further enlargement of the heart, which could worsen the insufficiency and cause more blood regurgitation.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
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Can people with mitral stenosis have children?

If the patient has mitral stenosis, the decision on whether to have children should be based on the size and extent of the narrowing. This is because, in the late stages of pregnancy, this condition can be life-threatening, especially as it can lead to heart failure. This occurs because blood volume increases and the heart is overloaded, which is very dangerous. It can cause the fetus to develop certain diseases due to ischemia and hypoxia, potentially endangering its life. Since mitral stenosis is a type of congenital heart disease, surgical treatment is sometimes necessary to alleviate the condition. The decision to have children can vary depending on individual differences and is not absolute. If the symptoms are severe, it is recommended not to have children.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
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Mild to moderate mitral stenosis, how long?

If the patient has mitral stenosis which is mild and progressing to moderate, it will take a year or even longer. Because if mild cases are aggressively managed with medication, it can slow the further progression of the disease. Mitral stenosis is a type of rheumatic heart disease or heart valve disease, mainly causing symptoms such as palpitations, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, with severe cases also presenting with swelling of the lower limbs. For mild mitral stenosis, it is necessary to have regular hospital check-ups, particularly to actively prevent upper respiratory tract infections, as sometimes these conditions can occur after catching cold, and actively controlling respiratory inflammation can improve symptoms.