Mitral Regurgitation Recurrence
Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) recurrence is a condition in which the mitral valve in the heart does not close tightly, allowing blood to flow backwards in the heart. In the presence of a leaky mitral valve, the left ventricle partially ejects directly into the left atrium provoking symptoms of congestive heart failure (CHF). Mitral regurgitation recurrence necessitating mitral valve surgical repair or replacement is a significant worldwide healthcare problem. There are numerous causes for mitral regurgitation recurrence, including ischemia, degeneration, rheumatic fever, infection, and congenital heart defects. Mitral regurgitation recurrence may also be functional, related to dilation of the left ventricle due to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
15 in 1,000 people over 55 suffer from heart failure. 50% of these have mitral regurgitation.
It is estimated that 1-2% of the population of the United States are affected by mitral regurgitation. Due to improvements in revascularization technologies, more people are surviving myocardial infarction (MI), or heart attack, and the patient population for mitral regurgitation recurrence will continue to increase. Mitral regurgitation recurrence has been identified as a major accelerator for congestive heart failure (CHF), which affects 5.7 million people in the United States. It is estimated that 15% of all CHF patients have clinically relevant MR2, and 50% of all heart attack (MI) patients will develop ischemic-related mitral regurgitation at 30 days post-MI.
Tricuspid Regurgitation Recurrence
Tricuspid regurgitation recurrence is a condition in which the tricuspid valve does not close properly and blood flows back into the right atrium. It is often associated with or due to an enlarged right ventricle. The most common reason for leakage of this valve is high pulmonary pressures caused by a damaged mitral valve. This enlargement may also be related to a severe, long-standing lung disorder, such as emphysema or pulmonary hypertension or by a narrowing of the pulmonary valve (pulmonary stenosis). When the right ventricle enlarges and thickens so that it can pump harder, the valve opening stretches. If left untreated, tricuspid regurgitation recurrence can lead to blood backing up and staying in the atrium, which may lead to high venous pressures causing severe fluid overload in the extremities, abdomen and internal organs. Tricuspid regurgitation recurrence may also cause enlargement of the right ventricular wall resulting in right heart failure.
Tricuspid regurgitation recurrence and mitral regurgitation recurrence may be corrected by inserting a annuloplasty ring to reshape an enlarged valve opening. Valve flaps (leaflets) may also be modified so that they do not allow blood to flow backwards.
