Mitral regurgitation (leaky valve)

If too much blood flows backward, pressure can increase in the veins that lead from your lungs to your heart. This change is hard on your body and can cause problems such as labored breathing and atrial fibrillation, a type of arrhythmia.

What you should know about mitral regurgitation (leaky valve):

• If you have a leaky valve, you may not have symptoms. But you could experience heart palpitations, a common sign. Serious mitral regurgitation can lead to heart failure, which causes symptoms such as severe shortness of breath.
• We may be able to treat mitral regurgitation with medication. For more severe cases, you may need to have your mitral valve repaired or replaced.
  
  

Why choose Geisinger for your mitral regurgitation (leaky valve) care?

• Range of treatments: Our heart care team works closely with you to determine which type of heart valve disease treatment is right for you. We can treat leaky valves with medication, with a minimally invasive procedure or with traditional heart valve surgery.
• Excellent outcomes: We want to return you to the best quality of life possible, at the least risk. Compared to other hospitals, we have a high rate of repairing mitral valves rather than replacing them. Repairing is often a safer and better option.
• Access to MitraClip: Geisinger is the only hospital in the region offering MitraClip. This new type of transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) is a minimally invasive alternative to surgery. It treats the most common form of mitral regurgitation. Ask your doctor if you qualify for MitraClip.