Treatments For Mitral Valve Regurgitation

Mitral valve regurgitation is a cardiac problem characterized by a leaky mitral valve that does not close as it should. Also known as mitral insufficiency, this condition causes blood to leak into the cardiac muscle rather than flowing out into the rest of the body. Symptoms of mitral valve regurgitation include rapid heart rate or palpitations, fatigue, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. Palpitations usually become more severe when the patient is lying down on their left side. In some individuals, mitral valve insufficiency may not produce any symptoms and may be detected incidentally during an exam for another condition. Doctors will take the patient's health history and perform a physical examination when attempting to diagnose mitral valve regurgitation.