Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a condition where blood flows back into the left atrium of the heart instead of flowing forward into the aorta.

MR develops due to either damage to the mitral valve or stretching of the heart muscle, leading to valve incompetence. Causes include heart disease, congenital defects, rheumatic fever, and injury to the valve.

Diagnosis is done through a physical examination, echocardiogram, and other tests like MRI, CT scan and cardiac catheterization. Diagnostic criteria include murmurs, changes in heart sounds and increase in left atrium size.

MR is graded based on the amount of blood that flows back into the left atrium and the impact it has on the heart.

Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain and rapid or irregular heartbeats.

MR is followed up with regular echocardiograms and other tests as deemed necessary by the healthcare provider.

Treatments include lifestyle changes, medications, and in severe cases, surgery. Transcatheter mitral valve repair is a minimally invasive procedure where a device is implanted to improve valve function.

Surgical repair involves replacement or repair of the damaged valve. Follow-up after repair may include regular check-ups, echocardiograms, and monitoring of the heart function.

Transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) is a minimally invasive procedure to treat mitral regurgitation (MR). It involves the implantation of a device (such as an annuloplasty ring or a clip) into the heart through a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) to improve the function of the damaged mitral valve, without the need for open-heart surgery. TMVR is used as an alternative to traditional surgical repair for patients who are at high risk for surgery or who are not suitable candidates for traditional surgical repair.

Reference:

  1. American College of Cardiology (ACC) – Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair (TMVR). https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/articles/2021/01/20/14/55/transcatheter-mitral-valve-repair-tmvr.
  2. European Society of Cardiology (ESC) – Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair (TMVR). https://www.escardio.org/Patients/Transcatheter-Mitral-Valve-Repair.
  3. American Heart Association (AHA) – Mitral Regurgitation. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-valve-problems-and-disease/heart-valve-problems-and-diseases-mitral-regurgitation.
  4. Mayo Clinic – Mitral Regurgitation (MR). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mitral-regurgitation/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351895.