The mitral valve controls blood flow between the left atrium and left ventricle as it travels from the lungs to the rest of the body. Normally, the valve opens widely when the heart muscles relax and closes tightly when they contract. Mitral valve disease makes it difficult for the valve to open and close correctly.
This can lead to atrial fibrillation or heart failure. The team at our Structural Heart and Valvular Disease Program has experience in innovative approaches and minimally invasive techniques to treat mitral valve disease.
Types of heart valve disease
Types of mitral valve disease include:
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Mitral regurgitation: in which blood leaks backward through the valve
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Mitral valve prolapse: in which the valve’s leaflets bulge into the left atrium
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Mitral stenosis: a narrowing of the valve
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How Heart Valves Work
The heart is a beating muscle that pumps blood throughout the body. Inside, the heart four valves open and close in precise sequence to keep the blood moving in the appropriate direction.
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Valvular Stenosis
If a valve becomes narrow, stiff or thickened, the heart must work harder to force blood through the smaller opening. A valve that has become narrowed or thickened can compromise blood flow. This condition is called valvular stenosis.
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Valvular Regurgitation
A malformed or damaged valve may not close properly, allowing blood to leak backwards. This condition is called valvular regurgitation or valvular insufficiency.
Tests
Diagnosing mitral valve disease is the first step to developing a treatment plan. Our specialists may recommend one or more diagnostic and imaging procedures.
Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive way to diagnose and treat a variety of heart and vascular conditions by guiding thin, flexible tubes called catheters through blood vessels to problem areas.
Chest X-Rays
Chest X-rays use a small dose of radiation to create pictures of the structures inside the chest, including the lungs, heart, and chest wall.
Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
The cardiac computed tomography scan, or cardiac CT, uses X-rays to create three-dimensional images of your heart and blood vessels.
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your heart.
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
An electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, measures the heart’s electrical activity.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Magnetic resonance imaging, better known as cardiac MRI, is a combination of radio waves, magnets, and computer technology to create images of your heart and blood vessels.
Stress Tests
Stress tests are used to assess how your heart works during physical activity. There are several types of stress tests, including treadmill or bike stress tests, nuclear stress tests, stress echocardiograms, and chemically induced stress tests.
Treatments
Treatment will depend on the type and severity of your condition. If your symptoms are mild, your doctor may simply recommend monitoring or taking medications to treat the symptoms. If your condition is severe or worsening, you may need surgery to repair or replace the valve.
MitraClip™
MitraClip is a device our doctors use to treat mitral insufficiency, also known as mitral regurgitation.
Mitral Valve Disease Treatments
Mitral valve disease treatments may include medication, minimally invasive procedures, and surgery to treat a damaged valve.
Percutaneous Valve Treatments
Percutaneous valve procedures use catheter-based methods to replace a damaged heart valve and are less invasive than traditional open-heart surgeries.
Our providers
Location: Change location Enter your location
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Firehiwot Abebe Achamyeleh, MD
Cardiovascular Disease & Cardiology
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Nana Afari-Armah, MD
Advanced Heart Failure And Transplant Cardiology, Cardiology & Cardiovascular Disease
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Bolanle A. K. Akinyele, MD MPH
Cardiology & Cardiovascular Disease
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Ebony Rebecca Alston, DNATMED MD
Cardiovascular Disease & Cardiology
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Jonathan A Altschuler, MD
Cardiovascular Disease, Cardiology & Interventional Cardiology
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Jafar Mansour Fawzi Alzubi, MBBS MD
Interventional Cardiology & Cardiovascular Disease
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Rahul Anand, MD
Cardiology & Cardiovascular Disease
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Federico M Asch, MD
Cardiac Imaging, Cardiology & Cardiovascular Disease
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Tamara Ashvetiya, MD
Cardiovascular Disease, Cardiology, Adult Comprehensive Echocardiography & Hospital Medicine
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Ammar S Bafi, MD
Cardiac Surgery
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Kusay Barakat, MD
Cardiology & Cardiovascular Disease
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Dweep Barbhaya, MD
Cardiovascular Disease, Internal Medicine Specialist, Hospital Medicine, Interventional Cardiology & Obesity Medicine
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Orest Bohdan Bartoszyk, MD
Cardiology & Cardiovascular Disease
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Brian Daniel Baturin, MD
Cardiovascular Disease, Cardiology & Cardiac Imaging
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Valeriani R Bead, MD
Cardiology & Cardiovascular Disease
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Itshac Itsik Ben-Dor, MD
Cardiovascular Disease, Interventional Cardiology & Valvular Disease Cardiology
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Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.