hi,
I am a 41 yr old male who has recently(3mths ago) been diagnosed with MVP with severe regurgitation(4/4). I have chronic AF with a controlled ventricular rate(low 50bpm resting). Prolapse is bileaflet with anterior directed jet. Not sure if anterior prolapse is primarily due to loss of coaptation with flail posterior leaflet.
LV(7.6cm/4.6cm) and LA(6.7cm)
RV and RA are moderately dilated
LVEDP 18-20, LVEDV 210ml
LVESV 63ml
LA Area 42cm2, RA Area 30cm2
EF 70%, FS 40%
RSVP 30mmHg
CO 4 l/min
BP 120/80
Mild pulmonary hypertension with normal coronary arteries
I am reasonably asymptomatic apart from the AF and reduced peak exercise performance. I do not have any issues sleeping, but do suffer from tiredness/fatigue.
I have a number of questions around surgical outcomes, but understand some things cannot be accurately answered without good knowledge of the valve pathology.
1. Am I a good candidate for valve repair instead of replacement given the degree of dilation?
2. Would some form of MAZE procedure be useful during the valve open heart surgery?
3. What chances do I have of returning to normal sinus rhythm post surgery if maze is also done?
4. Given the dilation present (annular dilation of mitral annulus not known), if the valve is repaired, what type of annulplasty ring would most likely be used and why? Rigid or flexible?
5. Is it still possible for the LV / LA to remodel after repair given the severe dilation?
6. What is the potential durability of repair given the severe dilation?
7. What will happen to the LV EF after the valve is repaired? Will this improve over time?
8. Given the above symptoms/findings, should I be limiting(currently cycling 150-200km/week) the amount of exercise I do prior to surgery?
9. Will exercise accelerate the remodeling process so the heart begins to decompensate sooner, or is the intensity of the exercise the critical factor?
Thank you for your time, sorry so many Q's