Patient Alert: Is Early Surgery Best for Asymptomatic Mitral Regurgitation Patients?

But... What about patients who are asymptomatic and have a severely leaking mitral valve caused by mitral valve prolapse? Should these patients be operated on BEFORE the onset of symptoms?

To learn more, we just interviewed Dr. Patrick McCarthy, the Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, Illinois, about his new research paper, "Asymptomatic Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation: Validating Guidelines for Early Intervention".

During this video, you will learn key findings and recommendations from Dr. McCarthy's research of 1,000+ mitral valve patients including:

- Asymptomatic patients with severe mitral regurgitation that wait "too long" to undergo surgery are at risk for irreversible cardiac damage.

- Early surgery for asymptomatic mitral valve patients had 0% mortality at 30 days.

- In Dr. McCarthy's research paper, there was 0% mitral valve re-operations for asymptomatic patients 10 years after surgery.

- Only 2% of patients had mitral valve leakage at a level of 3 (out of 4) following mitral valve repair surgery.

The research presented by Dr. Patrick McCarthy and Northwestern Medicine supported the ACC/AHA Guidelines for the Management of Heart Valve Disease which recommends early treatment of severe mitral regurgitation for asymptomatic patients.

[margiestaneff]

Thank you Adam...I now have more questions for my cardiologist! I appreciate your continued attention to all things valve related. An educated patient is able to actively participate in their health care. Thanks again!

[guichar]

I actually was diagnosed with severe mitral valve stenosis. Did a balloon procedure which created another problem. Moderate regurgitation and the stenosis worsened after two years. I decided to redo the Ballon and that made the regurgitation severe. I have never had any symptoms of any kind EVER. I still train with my trainer and lift weights as I have always done. I'm told the only solution is to put me on a mechanical Valve and be on blood thinners for the rest of my life. 😞

[asenvelkov]

In 2020 I got a diagnose with MVP. And during this time I was 17 years old, I smoked cigarettes, I drank alcohol and symptoms were just extremely bad. My blood preassure reached 210/100 at one point and I quit all. Now I'm clean and excersising every day. The weird thing is I dont feel less energized, but shortness of breath happens through 4-5 days. Some days I feel normal, some days it's chest pain, coming from eating sugar or meat or taking caffeine. I just can't imagine having an operation It horryfies me how I'm gonna get sliced at the heart. I'm 18 and the doctor said to wait until 25 until I've fully grown If i want any sort of operation. But that feeling of having a ticking bomb inside my ribcage doesn't leave no matter how healthy I am. Also I'm in good shape. Im around underweight-normal weight, but more like normal weight. Just wanna know If I'm gonna survive 6 more years. It's mentally draining.

[MegahnLoraineCaro]

I’m 23 y/o and I just found out through 2D Echo that I have a MVP with mild regurgitation. My cardiologist told me not to worry about it because it’s only mild, also I’m not taking medication for it. Is it true that it’ll heal own its own?

[christinacampbell]

Feeling tired and my cardiologist just isn’t helping me can you please help me? I’m too young and I want to get back to normal

[sohanmondal]

can we live without surgery of Severe MR ??? My father Have Severe MR and Grade 3 LVDD .... But now he is under medication....???? Is medication effective 😭🥺 😰 please 🙏 tell sir...

[bannertraveller]

Hello thanks you for your videos. I am 54 and just found out I have MV with Mild to MODERATE regurgitation. They found a heart murmur late last year that I did not know about when I went to Urgent care for Covid test. Anyway I did a Nuclear Heart Stress Test last week and Cardiologist said no blockages which is good but my Valve is still an issue. How long do people normally have before they need to get a repair for those with Mild to Moderate and my second question is it a full open heart surgery where they have to split my breast bone open. It's 2am here and I am not feeling good about this news. It's all I think about. HELP

[otakuchan]

I’m 23, and found I have: trace pulmonic, trace mitral, and trivial tricuspid regurgitations. My cardiologist told me it’s not a cause for concern, and my heart is fine. And many people can have 1-3 regurgitations and not even know, and regurgitations are super common finding on echos. He told me he had worse ones on his own echo finding in 1999, and he’s still here today and doing fine!

But I’m scared cause I get elevated heart rates at random intervals, chest pressure and sometimes chest aches, get hot flashes, joint aches, see pulsing in neck, get tingly hands and feet sensation sometimes, out of breath sometimes.
I cry sometimes because I’m young! I’m also underweight for my height(as been losing weight without trying this year), I’m 5’8 and 112 pounds and struggling to gain weight.

All I want is all my physical discomfort that feels like they lurk daily for months without end to go away, be back at a normal weight again, and live a long and happy life! 😞🥲

[sohanmondal]

can we live without surgery of Severe MR ??? My father Have Severe MR and Grade 3 LVDD .... But now he is under medication....???? Is medication effective 😭🥺 😰 please 🙏 tell sir...😊