The mitral valve (also known as the bicuspid valve or left atrioventricular valve) is a dual-flap (bi- from the Latin, meaning double, and mitral- from the Latin, meaning shaped like a miter) valve in the heart that lies between the left atrium (LA) and the left ventricle (LV). The mitral valve and the tricuspid valve are known collectively as the atrioventricular valves because they lie between the atria and the ventricles of the heart and control the flow of blood  more read from my BLOG of NewsMine
Mitral valve regurgitation — or mitral regurgitation — happens when your heart's mitral valve doesn't close tightly, which allows blood to flow backward in your heart. The mitral valve is located between your heart's two left chambers, and allows blood to flow forward through your heart during a normal heartbeat. Mitral valve regurgitation is also called mitral insufficiency or mitral incompetence.

When the mitral valve doesn't function properly, blood can't move through your heart or to the rest of your body as efficiently. Mitral valve regurgitation can make you tired and short of breath.

Treatment of mitral valve regurgitation depends on how severe your condition is, whether it's getting worse, and signs and symptoms. For mild cases, treatment may not be necessary. You may need heart surgery to repair or replace the valve for more severe cases. Left untreated, severe mitral valve regurgitation can cause heart failure or serious heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias).

Advantages of Mitral Valve Repair

Mitral valve repair is the best option for nearly all patients with a leaking (regurgitant) mitral valve and for many with a narrowed (stenotic) mitral valve.

Compared to valve replacement, mitral valve repair provides better long-term survival, better preservation of heart function, lower risk of complications, and usually eliminates the need for long-term use of blood thinners (anticoagulants). For these reasons, Cleveland Clinic surgeons are committed to mitral valve

Advantages of Mitral Valve Repair:

    * Better early and late survival
    * Improved lifestyle
    * Better preservation of heart function
    * Lower risk of stroke and infection (endocarditis)
    * No need for blood thinners (anticoagulation)

Mitral heart Valve Surgery — Surgical Techniques

Cleveland Clinic surgeons have been instrumental in the development and application of modern mitral valve repair techniques. Problems with the posterior leaflet are generally corrected by a small resection of the abnormal portion of the valve. Anterior leaflet dysfunction is managed by creation of new chords or chordal transfer. Anterior leaflet repair techniques are technically challenging, requiring a skilled and experienced surgical team to achieve the best result. All repairs include an annuloplasty, which is a complete or partial ring placed around the circumference (rim) of the valve.

Does mitral valve prolapse need to be treated?

Most people with mitral valve prolapse don't have symptoms, won't have problems and won't need treatment. However, those who have leaky (regurgitant) prolapsing valves are at increased risk of developing an infection of the lining of the heart or heart valve known as endocarditis. In the past, some people with MVP have been given antibiotics before certain dental or surgical procedures to help prevent an infection called bacterial endocarditis (BE). However, the American Heart Association no longer recommends routine antibiotics before dental procedures except for patients at the highest level of risk for BE, such as patients with a prosthetic cardiac valve, patients who have had BE before, or patients with specific types of congenital heart disease. Also, the American Heart Association no longer recommends routine antibiotics to prevent BE in patients undergoing procedures of the gastrointestinal or genitourinary tract.

Medicine may be used in a small number of MVP patients with chest pain, angina pectoris or abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).