Comments on: 50% Of Eligible Patients Do Not Get Mitral Regurgitation Treatment

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:08:02 +0000

Yolanda, I too had a mitral valve repair that was not completely successful. During the surgery they thought it looked good, but once my heart was again beating on its own it was found I still have moderate regurgitation it had been severe with my MVP prior to operating. So, I still have my murmer though it is less than before. It is thought that maybe 20 years down the road I may have to have another surgery. I am only 36 now, I hope technology for heart surgery is much better by then and it will not be as stressful. I am still suffering with complications of my surgery in December 2008

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 01:23:03 +0000

Hi Adam
My MVP with regurgitation this year is 50%, up 1% from last year. My cardiologist this past spring said that at one time they would have waited for my condition to get even worse but he had just recently come from a symposium where it was decided to treat this condition a little earlier before serious symptoms such as enlargening of the ventrical or congestive heart failure set in. I was referred to a surgeon who still wasn’t convinced I needed the surgery but shortly afterwards symtoms did start to arise so some diagnostic testing was completed and now I’m heading off to surgery. Leading up to this I had been under the impression I may never need surgery but once my lifestyle became affected, the need for intervention became obvious. One of the questions the cardiologist always asked me was if my lifestyle was being affected and up until recently the answer was no. It’s a huge step but not one I see as being a choice. I’m hoping for a repair so wish me luck. Cheryl, Canada

By: yolanda

yolanda — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 23:23:19 +0000

I too fall into the category of patients that never got referred for surgery. The cardiologist always said, “you don’t want to have open heart surgery”. That type of “care” resulted in a very bad turn of events where I ended up in ICU for a week due to “pneumonia”. The doctors will not tell me just what happened that landed me in ICU but I do know I had a breathing tube and other tubes. After getting my “strength back” a pulmonary expert suggested that I have the mitral valve surgery. The cardiologist still thought I should put off surgery. I went ahead with the surgery. A repair was done; it’s been almost a year and although my “murmur is back”, I am told that it is not as serious as before. Although this is not what I wanted to hear, I do feel much better. However, occasionally, I still wonder how long before I will have to undergo another procedure. This blog is indeed very helpful. If anyone out there has had a mitral valve repair that wasn’t completely successful, what has been planned in handling the murmur? By the way, concern should be exercised when you really do not feel well and cannot function regardless of what your cardiologist might say. You should know your body better than anyone else.

By: Phyllis

Phyllis — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:14:12 +0000

This concerns me greatly. I’ve had slowly increasing regurg since being diagnosed in early 2002. I’m now “low moderate” and have had extra beats and a few other small irregularities. I don’t remember either cardiologist asking about symptoms, yet I’ve complained to my original cardiologist about a little light-headedness and to my internist for years about fatigue. My original interventional cardiologist (who moved out of state) was considered one of the best and the doctor from his former heart center who I am now seeing has a good reputation as well. When should patients become concerned that they may not be getting the best advice?

By: Adam Pick

Adam Pick — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:32:01 +0000

Great to hear you’re doing well Steve!

This just came in from Linda:

I was one of these patients.

No symptoms but an echo showed severe regurgitation. I was lucky to have a cardiologist who believes in repair while it can still be done. My surgery was successful and the repair on my mitral valve should be good for life. If I had waited another year or so I would likely be facing a replacement and damage to my otherwise healthy heart.

Side note… As a 52-year old female I requested a full cardiac work-up where this was diagnosed. My general practitioner never heard the mitral valve problem in check-ups. We must take charge of our health before we are symptomatic and our options limited.

Linda

By: Steve McDowell

Steve McDowell — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:18:42 +0000

I am not surprised by this at all. I did not get recommended for surgery until after I changed cardiologists. My surgeon talked about getting it and repairing it earlier since it is such a safe procedure now. I had my surgery on July 8th and am feeling great!