Mitral incompetence Health Dictionary

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Mitral Incompetence: From 2 Different Sources

Failure of the mitral valve of the heart to close properly, allowing blood to leak back into the left atrium (upper chamber) when pumped out of the left ventricle (lower chamber). The disorder, which is also known as mitral regurgitation, may occur in conjunction with mitral stenosis.

Symptoms include increasing breathlessness and fatigue, sometimes with palpitations. Later, the ankles may swell.

Diagnosis may be made by hearing a characteristic heart murmur, and from chest X-rays, ECG, and echocardiography. Cardiac catheterization may also be performed. Treatment may include diuretic drugs, vasodilator drugs, and anticoagulant drugs. If symptoms are disabling, heart-valve surgery may be considered.

Before dental or other surgery, patients with mitral incompetence are given antibiotic drugs to prevent endocarditis. mitral stenosis Narrowing of the opening of the mitral valve in the heart. The left atrium (upper chamber) has to work harder to force blood through the narrowed valve. Mitral stenosis is more common in women and may be accompanied by mitral incompetence. Stenosis is usually due to damage to the valve caused by rheumatic fever.

The main symptom is breathlessness on exertion. As mitral stenosis worsens, breathing difficulty eventually occurs when at rest. Other signs include palpitations, atrial fibrillation, and flushed cheeks. There may also be coughing up of blood and fatigue. Possible complications are as for mitral incompetence.

A diagnosis is made from the patient’s history, listening to heart sounds, and by investigations such as an ECG, chest X-rays, echocardiography, and cardiac catheterization.

Drug treatment is broadly the same as for mitral incompetence.

If symptoms persist, balloon valvuloplasty may be carried out to stretch the valve.

Alternatively, heart-valve surgery may be performed to replace the valve.

Health Source: BMA Medical Dictionary
Author: The British Medical Association
A defect in the MITRAL VALVE of the HEART which allows blood to leak from the left VENTRICLE into the left ATRIUM. It is also known as mitral regurgitation; incompetence may occur along with MITRAL STENOSIS. The left ventricle has to work harder to compensate for the faulty valve, so it enlarges, but eventually the ventricle cannot cope with the extra load and left-sided heart failure may develop. A common cause of mitral incompetence is RHEUMATIC FEVER or damage following a heart attack. The condition is treated with drugs to help the heart, but in severe cases heart surgery may be required.
Health Source: Medical Dictionary
Author: Health Dictionary

Mitral Valve

The mitral valve, so-called because of its resemblance to a bishop’s mitre, is the valve which guards the opening between the ATRIUM and VENTRICLE on the left side of the HEART.... mitral valve

Aortic Incompetence

See also REGURGITATION. This is the back ?ow of blood through the AORTIC VALVE of the HEART into the left ventricle, caused by an incompetent valve. The failure to close may be caused by a congenital defect or by damage from disease. The defect may be cured by surgical replacement of the damaged valve with an arti?cial valve. (See HEART, DISEASES OF.)... aortic incompetence

Incompetence

Incompetence is a term applied to the valves of the heart when, as a result of disease in the valves or alterations in size of the chambers of the heart, the valves become unable to close the ori?ces which they should protect. (See HEART, DISEASES OF.)... incompetence

Mitral Stenosis

Narrowing of the opening between the left ATRIUM and left VENTRICLE of the HEART as a result of rigidity of, and adhesion between, the cusps of the MITRAL VALVE. It is due, almost invariably, to the infection RHEUMATIC FEVER. The atrium has to work harder to force blood through the narrowed channel. The effects are similar to those of MITRAL INCOMPETENCE. Shortness of breath and palpitations and irregular beating (?brillation) of the atrium are common consequences in adults. Drug treatment with DIGOXIN and DIURETICS helps, but surgery to dilate or replace the faulty valve may be necessary.... mitral stenosis

Tricuspid Incompetence

Failure of the TRICUSPID VALVE in the HEART to close fully, thus permitting blood to leak back into the right atrium during contractions of the right ventricle. This reduces the heart’s pumping e?ciency, and right-sided heart failure usually results. Treatment for heart failure (using DIURETICS and ACE inhibitor drugs) usually restores function, but sometimes heart surgery is required to repair or replace the defective valve.... tricuspid incompetence

Cervical Incompetence

Abnormal weakness of the cervix that can result in recurrent miscarriages. An incompetent cervix may gradually widen under the weight of the fetus from about the 12th week of pregnancy onwards, or may suddenly open during the second trimester. The condition is detected by an internal examination or by ultrasound scanning.

Treatment is with a suture (stitch) applied like a purse string around the cervix during the 4th month of pregnancy. The suture is left in position until the pregnancy is at or near full term and is then cut to allow the mother to deliver the baby normally.... cervical incompetence

Regurgitations, Mitral

Backflow of blood from the left ventricle of the heart (pumping arterial blood outwards to the aorta) into the left atrium (receiving oxygenated blood from the lungs) because of faulty closure of the mitral (bicuspid) valve that guards between the two chambers.... regurgitations, mitral

Mitral Disease

A serious defect of the mitral valve of the heart. Two kinds: (1) a permanently deformed narrowed valve (mitral stenosis), or (2) a dilated, over-stretched or distorted valve through enlargement of the left ventricle. In this case imperfect closure causes back pressure which produces chest symptoms. Incompetence leads to enlargement of the heart. Often a legacy from rheumatic fever in children. Sooner or later the liver congests with possible jaundice. Presence of albumin in the urine follows kidney involvement.

Treatment. See: HEART – LEFT VENTRICULAR FAILURE. ... mitral disease

Mitral Valve Prolapse

A common, slight deformity of the mitral valve, in the left side of the heart, that can produce a degree of mitral incompetence. The prolapse is most common in women and causes a heart murmur. It may be inherited, but the cause is often unknown.Usually, there are no symptoms, and treatment is not needed. Occasionally, the condition may produce chest pain, arrhythmia, or, rarely, heart failure. Often, no treatment is required for mitral valve prolapse, but some people may be treated with beta-blocker drugs, diuretic drugs, antiarrhythmic drugs, or, rarely, heart-valve surgery.... mitral valve prolapse

Pulmonary Incompetence

A rare defect of the pulmonary valve at the exit of the heart’s right ventricle. The valve fails to close properly, allowing blood to leak back into the heart. The cause is usually rheumatic fever, endocarditis, or severe pulmonary hypertension.... pulmonary incompetence

Mitral Regurgitation

(mitral incompetence) failure of the *mitral valve to close, allowing a reflux of blood from the left ventricle of the heart to the left atrium. It may be due to mitral valve prolapse (MVP) in which one or both valve leaflets flop back into the left atrium (also known as ‘floppy mitral valve’). It also results from chronic rheumatic scarring of the valve, or is secondary to left ventricular muscle damage. Its manifestations include breathlessness, atrial *fibrillation, embolism, enlargement of the left ventricle, and a systolic *murmur. Mild cases are symptomless and require no treatment, but in severe cases the affected valve should be repaired or replaced with an artificial one (mitral prosthesis).... mitral regurgitation

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