Mitral and aortic regurgitation

[nitro6062]

I am a 38 yr old female primarily healthy. Appx 10 yrs ago diagnosed with MVP with mild regurgitation. Also frequent PVCs. Throughtout the years had many tests. PVCs got to be so bad (appx 300 in 5 minutes) that last April I had a cardiac ablation for the arrythmias. Three separate areas of the heart were ablated. Since then the arrythmias have improved drastically. For about the past 2-3 months I have been having more shortness of breath with minimal exertion and now shortness of breath when lying down. My most recent echocardiagram showed a moderate mitral regurgitation (that hit the back wall of the left atrium) and now aortic regurgitation (which is new, never been on any test before). My question is; At what point do they consider a valve replacement? I have struggled with these symptoms for years and am to the point that if that is what is going to take to fix then lets do it. I would rather do it before irreversible damage is done and I am too sick to recover.


This discussion is related to Progression of MVP.

[kenkeith]

A renown heart surgeon at the Mayo Clinic commented the major problem he sees is the patient waited too long .  Waiting too long can give time for your heart's left ventricle to enlarge and a loss of normal systole functionality (pumping efficiency).  That would be permanent and for a younger person a lifetime of a serious heart condition.

I have moderate to severe MVR, and I and my doctor agree to not intervene surgically until there are symptoms (shortness of breath), etc.  The reasoning is that there is a  risk to feel less well than currently and age is a factor.  If I were your age and had shortness of breath, I would talk to a good heart surgeon.