| DEFINITION: |
The mitral valve does not
close properly causing blood to flow back into the atrium with each beat.
Also referred to as incompetent and insufficient. |
| CAUSES: |
It is frequently due to
rheumatic fever, and various heart muscle disorders. Regurgitation
can be caused by
weak or damaged valves. The blood flow to the rest of the body is
decreased. The heart may pump harder to compensate for this
decrease. Acute regurgitation may be caused by heart attack or
infective endocarditis. |
| SYMPTOMS: |
Symptoms
include: shortness of breath, rapid respirations,
palpitations (sensation of feeling the heart beat), chest pain
(unrelated to coronary artery disease or heart attack),
cough. A rapid heart beat is usually found with severe
regugitation |
| "DR." TESTS: |
Testing may include:
stethoscope for palpitations, echocardiogram,
coronary angiography, and chest x-ray |
| TREATMENTS: |
Treatments include:
antibiotics if there is an infection, anti arrhythmias for
irregular heart beats, vasodilators to reduce workload of the
heart, diuretics to remove excess fluid. Prophylactic
use of antibiotics to prevent against infective endocarditis. |
| COMPLICATIONS: |
Complications may
include: chronic mitral regurgitation (if now acute), endocarditis,
heart failure,
pulmonary
emboli, clots in other areas, arrhythmias. |
