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 incompetence |
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