MVP w/ regurgitation and unrelated surgery

[nymomof5]

I have been DX with mild MVP w/moderate to severe regurgitation, although the last echo(2yrs after the first) showed moderate regurgitation.  I am in need of a total hip replacement. I saw my cardio to make sure I could have the surgery and she said yes. She said the pain meds and the anesthesia would be fine with my heart.  I wonder:

1) Will the leaky valve put me at a much higher chance of blood clots after the surgery or even during?


I was told not to take Imitrex for migraines with my bad leak, but I need ibuprofen quite often for my hip pain. Tylenol doesn't help.

2)  With a moderate ( /severe) leak,  is taking ibuprofen ok at all?  How about taking it about 3 times a week, once a day at(400mg)?

3)  Anything else I should be aware of with a leaky mitral valve and this kind of surgery?

4)...Random question...is there any proof that having lots of pregnancies can make regurgitation worse?

Thank you for your time!  Your service is invaluable!

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

Hello momof5,

Sorry to hear that you need surgery.  The good news is that your doctor doesn't think you need a valve surgery for now.  Regurgitant lesions are tolerated in surgery much better than stenotic lesions.

1) Will the leaky valve put me at a much higher chance of blood clots after the surgery or even during?

No.

I was told not to take Imitrex for migraines with my bad leak, but I need ibuprofen quite often for my hip pain. Tylenol doesn't help.

2) With a moderate ( /severe) leak, is taking ibuprofen ok at all? How about taking it about 3 times a week, once a day at(400mg)?

If you aren't having problems with heart failure, ibuprofen should be ok unless you doctor provides you with a reason why it is not ok.  If you are having heart failure, that is an indication for valve replacement anyway.


3) Anything else I should be aware of with a leaky mitral valve and this kind of surgery?

MR puts you at a slightly greater risk of heart failure with surgery, but with normal heart function (I assume this is the case or they would have recommended valve surgery) this should be a small risk.

4)...Random question...is there any proof that having lots of pregnancies can make regurgitation worse?

Regurgitation tends to get worse during pregnancy because of increased blood volume, but I haven't heard that there are long term affects.  Bioprosthetic valve replacements degenerate faster in patients with multiple pregnancies -- you may have already heard this and that is why you are asking the question.

I hoe this helps.  Thanks for posting and good luck with surgery!

[dande4]

Very good question and I hope the dr. can give you some answers.