Does redundant mitral valve tissue still mean a structurally normal heart?

[fearfactor]

On my echocardiogram report, the result was "anterior mitral valve leaflet appears mildly redundant though no frank prolapse is seen" and "trivial mitral and tricuspid valve regurgitation."  Does this mean my heart is "structurally normal?"  I am asking because I have suspected (never caught on a monitor, Holter or 30 day event) NSVT runs and am concerned because I know that in a structurally normal heart these are benign but in a non-normal heart they can be dangerous.  Do I have mitral valve prolapse and if so do my test results foreshadow sudden cardiac death?

I realize I posted a question last month and am at the end of my 2 per 6 month limit so this will be my last until 6 months, just to let everyone know.

Thank you.

[fearfactor]

Hi!  I'm doing better - I'm now 13 weeks pregnant and the pregnancy has been going well. Actually, my palps have been better since I'm pregnant but they are still very frustrating!  Thanks for the kind words and encouragement!

[Momto3]

Hi Fran,

It is extremely rare that pvcs will lead to a change in heart function. I had thousands of pvcs daily, for 25 years and they were never more than annoying and anxiety-provoking.  When a routine test came back showing that my EF had dropped, everyone pretty much assumed it was because the mitral regurgitation had progressed.  However, a TEE and stress echos proved otherwise.  My thought that perhaps the pvcs were the culprit...It is rarely documented, but it has been known to occur.  The results were verified with subsequent echos.  Because of the mitral regurg, I would have to take antiarrythmics for the rest of my life or try ablation. Tried the meds for several months, but didn't like the side effects.  We needed to see if reducing the frequency of pvcs would, in turn, lead to an increase in ventricular function.  Ended up trying the ablation. It took two procedures, but my EF bounced back up into the 50's within a few months.  For the past year or so, it has been 60%.  Although I don't get anywhere near the thousands of pvcs I used to get, every now and again, they occur.  For that, BB's (as needed) does the trick.

Prior to the drop in EF, my doctors have always told me that taking betablockers was for symptomatic relief. Sounds like you have a great grasp of keeping your perspective on your pvcs : )

For me, NSVT it is a sequence of at least 3 pvcs.  It's like a rolling, tumbling kind of thing.  Not like the pause and the thud after a single pvc. If you were to listen with a stethoscope, normally your heart sound is lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub...nice and rhythmic.  For me, nsvt is like lub-dub-dub, lub-dub-dub, lub-dub-dub, lub-dub,dub....and eventually back into a normal rhythm.  I don't feel a pause with nsvt; it's more like a rumble.  Hope that makes some sense : )
Connie

[Fran71]

Hi Connie,
I didn't know PVCs could lead to a change in heart function. Then I guess it's very important to control them with betablockers and such. I always wondered whether it's better to bear with the arrhythmia and take no meds, or the opposite. I've come to the conclusion that on the days when I feel bad, I will take a betablocker. It improves my quality of life and it will also protect my heart.

I have a question for all NSVT experts, which may sound silly. When NSVT occurs, is it like a much longer PVC if you feel your pulse? I mean, the single PVC implies a pause between the beats you feel in your pulse. Does NSVT mean a much longer pause that you can feel in your pulse?

Thanks so much

Fran

[Momto3]

Thanks for sharing the link to the article on valve disease.  It was easy to follow and very informative.

Thanks again!

[kitcurious]

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20010601/2201.html

[Momto3]

Hi!

Hope classes are going well this semester!!  Glad to hear you are "learning" to cope with your palps.  From my experience, it beats letting them rule your life.  You may always have them, at least to some degree, and your ability to "deal with them can only help."  

I don't know if this will help, cuz I'm also a little confused on the phrase that keeps circulating regarding a "structurally normal heart."  Heck, I've picked up on the same phrase.  Guess cuz I've heard it make the rounds here a number of times : )

I have MVP with moderately-severe regurgitation of the mitral valve.  I've known about the valve problem for about 25 years, and so far, it is stable.  Even with that, the doctor was not concerned at all about 22000 pvcs, including nsvt.  I'm actually not sure that MVP/MR constitutes a structural anomoly.  What I do know, is that when my EF dropped, which pointed to a CHANGE in my heart's function, there was a lot more concern.  It turns out that, in my case, the pvcs are thought to have led to the change in function.  Must be true, cuz my EF is back to normal and very few (compared to before) ectopics.

Hope you are feeling better!!
Connie