Re: Mitral Valve Prolapse and Premature Ventricular Contractions

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Posted by George on November 14, 2003 at 02:26:06:

In Reply to: Mitral Valve Prolapse and Premature Ventricular Contractions posted by Elizabeth on November 13, 2003 at 16:30:27:

Elizabeth:
I had mitral valve prolapse and a lot of extra beats for about 20 years. Finally, I went into AFIB. A Mitral valve repair and maze fixed everything and I am now in sinus and drug free.
The heart problem was in my family. My mother had it and lived into her late 80's, finally dying of heart failure. My son has a prolapse. It's definitely a "family thing." I know people who have a prolapse and irregular beats all their lives and need no surgery. The main thing is keep your eye on the valve so that it doesn't cause changes in your heart chambers. Once these changes take place, they are not reversable. Your docs can watch the valve, chambers and blood flow with the echo, and if needed a TEE, an echo from a probe in the stomach that goes behind the heart to get a better look at the valve. If the valve gets bad, they will be able to let you know immediately if they think it's repairable or it has to be replaced, which is less desirable. Also, there are new techniques being developed where mitral valves can be repaired without "open heart surgery." I posted the page address on this site "NON SURGICAL BEATING HEART VALVE SURGERY." It's being done experimentally now at University of Penn in Phila.
Good Luck
George

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