Mitral Valve Tear???

[aussiemember]

Hi, went today to see a recommended cardiologist to get a second opinion. Interestingly enough he totally agreed with my normal cardiologist. He said I will need a valve replacement in the next year or so (he agreed repair was unlikely due to the type of prolapse I have). He also said that the main thing to keep an eye on was the level of regurgitation and the systolic and dystolic figures and that as soon as they started changing I needed a referral to a surgeon. While it was good to get a second opinion that agreed with the first it was also hard to hear it all over again about the need for OHS

Anyway, both cardiologists mentioned the possibility that my mitral valve could "tear" at any stage and that if this happened I would be SOB all the time and would need immediate intervention. Both doctors seemed to imply this happened quite regularly but of all the stories I have read on here I can't really remember anyone mentioning it happening all of a sudden like that. Has anyone on here had a valve tear?? If so what happened and what were your symptoms???

 

[gijanet]

I am glad to hear that you got your second opinion....

I am glad to hear that you got your second opinion....

Sounds like you need to do some surgeon shopping here soon. Wouldn't hurt to find one and get his take on your situation - sooner as opposed to later, but just my two cents.

I have to confess that the mitral valve tearing is a new one to me, too. Granted, I haven't read every post on here in the last couple of years, but have read many and don't recall anyone using those words. I did do a search on here for you, but came up empty handed. I also did a google search with "mitral valve tear" and quite a few links popped up, some of which actually looked valid, so you might try that when you have time. I have to warn you, though, that the links that looked most credible were in medical journals, most of which you have to have a sub to to view the actual article and not just the abstract.

Hopefully, someone will wander along soon who is "in the know." Good luck and keep us posted. Hugs. J.

 

[EireCara]

Clefts....

Clefts....

Hi there, I have 3 ''clefts'' on my MV anterior leaflet, and when Iv googled it, its been described as a ''tear'' . Try googeling MITRAL VALVE CLEFT. Good luck and if I can be of any more help just SHOUT !!

 

[strawberry]

My mitral valve is myxomatous (jelly-like) and the cardio says it is at a higher risk of rupture of the chords that hold it in place. Perhaps that's what your cardio meant?

 

[farmgirl]

good morning,

In 1985, I had a mitral valve repair for a cleft mitral valve. I did pretty well for quite a while after that.

But then in March of 2002, I experienced increased shortness of breath. Our cows were having their babies, so I attributed alot of my problems to being tired and having to walk through the snow and mud. But a visit to the doctor revealed that I was in CHF. I started on Lasix and went to the cardiologist.

The cardiologist said it was time to think about surgery. I saw the surgeon in April and discussed surgery with him. I wanted to wait until the fall to have surgery as things were busy throughout the summer with the farm. (Stupid idea I think). Anyway, he agreed it would be okay. Just call when I was ready.

Well, it was a pretty tough summer. Somehow I got through it. Spent most nights sleeping in a recliner as I could not breath laying down. Had to stop three or four times to walk a block.

Had the surgery end of September. When it was said and done, I was told that the repair on the mitral valve had tore. I don't know when it happened exactly as the doctors did not seem concerned before then. But I was feeling pretty poorly by the time I had surgery. Looking back, I should have probably had the surgery much earlier than I did. I wanted to wait as long as I could, but I think I had a harder recovery time because of it.

I guess what I am saying, is that if you develope increased shortness of breath, difficulty laying flat, or feel different in anyway, I would go see your doctor. Let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.

Diane

 

[Adrienne]

I am wondering if the cardiologist meant that the cordae that keep the valve in place could tear or rupture. I had two ruptured cordae.

 

[EireCara]

Hi Diane.....

Hi Diane.....

Hi Diane, I also have Mitral Valve 'cleft'....I was just wondering did you have symptoms before your first surgery.... I have LOTS.

 

[Christina L]

When a person has mitral

When a person has mitral

valve prolapse, the mitral valve leaflets are usually very redundant and thickened - they flop around all over the place. Tears are bound to occur - of the leaflets or the chordae.

I know one thing that was very interesting on my op report post surgery was that the surgeon removed a lot of scar tissue from a wall of my heart - I guess that was from the leaflets scraping against it, as I have never had surgery before.

Christina L

 

[jeffp]

That's what got me here. The cordae tore from the leaflets and I was coughing all the time and couldn't get to sleep lying down. Being the stubborn person I am, I figured it was just a bad cold and would go away. After 3 days I felt so lousy that I finally went to the doctor and would up in too poor condition to do surgery on at that time. Never had any SOB prior to or during; only past mild murmur and mild prolapse. Repair failed because the leaflets were too shreded to hold under pressure, and wound up with a repair.
Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to choose a surgeon and go over the what if's and options before hand. Sometimes it kinda comes at ya' all of the sudden.

 

[Marty]

Me too!

Me too!

I ruptured a chordae tendonae while playing golf, last hole, barely made it home. Signed up for surgery soon after.The surgeon said my valve was shredded and other chordae thickened and stretched. He said a repair if attempted would last less than two years. I've had eight great years with my St.Jude mechanical. Get an experienced surgeon!

 

[catwoman]

Marty:

Just curious: What did it feel like when the cordae ruptured?

 

[susieq14]

Hi Jeanne,
Sorry to hear the news that your first cardiologist was right but at least you have confirmation and don't have to be second guessing.

I've never heard or read about a mitral valve tear and I just did a quick search on the web through ask.com and found lots of listings. Two that I followed were the postings on mayo clinic's web site and cnn.com.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/mitral-valve-disease/mitral-regurgitation.html

http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/DS/00421.html
Here's what is said at cnn.com
Numerous causes:
Any condition that damages a valve can cause regurgitation. Mitral valve regurgitation has several causes, including:
Damaged cords. Mitral valve regurgitation may result from damage to the cords that anchor the flaps of the mitral valve to the heart wall. Over time, these cords may stretch or suddenly tear, especially in people with mitral valve prolapse. A tear of these cords can cause substantial leakage through the mitral valve and may require heart surgery to repair.

It sounds like the advice we always hear at vr.com to see a surgeon sooner rather than later is the right advice right about now. I would much prefer to have surgery before my valve and heart are compromised.

Take Care!
Susie

 

[aussiemember]

Thanks so much to everyone for their input. This place is truely a valuable resource. JeffP & Marty thanks for sharing what happened to you - sounds like that is what the cardios were talking about. I see my regular cardio in December and am going to ask about a surgeon - the cardio yesterday recommended a guy who was the most experienced with my type of valve and so I am going to ask to see him.

Just wanted to add that knowledge is comfort - finding others who have being through similiar experiences somehow makes it all less scarey

 

[Marty]

No pain,just SOB

No pain,just SOB

Marty:

Just curious: What did it feel like when the cordae ruptured?

Marsha, No pain just acutely short of breath. Had to sit down and had a sense of "impending doom". My golfing companions asked if they should call 911. I said "no, hang on a minute." I began to feel a little better and was able to walk to my car and make it home. I saw my general internist who said I had a new heart murmur. I listened to my own heart (believe it or not, the first time since medical school) and had a loud so-called machinery murmur of mitral regurg. It did sound like a factory in there. My long standing mitral valve prolapse now became a surgical problem. The surgeon listened for about one minute and asked -when do you want me to schedule you?