Mitral valve disease

Overview

In mitral valve disease, the valve between your left heart chambers (left atrium and left ventricle) doesn't work properly.

Types of mitral valve disease include:

• Mitral valve regurgitation. In this condition, the flaps (leaflets) of the mitral valve weaken, causing blood to leak backward into the left atrium of your heart. If not treated, it can result in heart muscle damage. The most common cause of blood leakage is mitral valve prolapse, in which the leaflets bulge back into the left atrium as your heart contracts.
• Mitral valve stenosis. In this condition, the mitral valve opening is narrowed.

Why choose Mayo Clinic for mitral valve disease

• Experience. Mayo Clinic doctors trained in heart and blood vessel conditions (cardiologists) and heart and blood vessel surgery (cardiovascular surgeons) have experience in evaluating and treating people who have mitral valve disease and other types of heart valve disease.
• Diagnostic tools. Mayo Clinic cardiologists use many tests to accurately diagnose people who have mitral valve disease. Tests may include echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, cardiac catheterization and others.
• Treatment expertise. Mayo Clinic doctors and surgeons have expertise treating mitral valve disease with procedures including balloon valvotomy, mitral valve repair, mitral valve replacement and other types of heart valve surgery. Surgeons also perform minimally invasive heart surgery, which involves smaller incisions that often result in less pain and a quicker recovery. Doctors also monitor you over time for any changes in your condition.
• Efficient system. Mayo Clinic doctors diagnose your condition and develop your treatment plan, often in a few days.
• Team approach. Mayo Clinic doctors work together to determine the most appropriate treatment for your condition.
• Research. Mayo Clinic doctors study new diagnosis and treatment options for mitral valve disease and other heart valve diseases and conduct clinical trials.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked among the Best Hospitals for heart and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic also ranks among the Best Children's Hospitals for heart and heart surgery.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

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Read more about diagnosis and treatment of mitral valve regurgitation. Also read more about diagnosis and treatment of mitral valve prolapse, and diagnosis and treatment of mitral valve stenosis. Also see a video on mitral valve repair.

Related book: Mayo Clinic Healthy Heart for Life! book provides an easy-to-follow plan to prevent and conquer heart disease.