MITRAL VALVE
- The mitral valve is the valve that regulates blood to pass from the left upper chamber (Left Atrium) to the left lower chamber (Left Ventricle)
- It is so called due to the similarity in shape with a ‘Mitre’ (also spelt Miter)
- This is a headgear which a Pope or Bishop wears in formal ceremonies
MVP
- Mitral valve prolapse is one of the most common congenital defect in the heart
- It is often shortened to ‘MVP’
- One of the most common ways of picking these cases up is when the doctor listens to your heart with a stethoscope
- A murmur is heard
DIAGNOSIS
- The definitive way to make a diagnosis is by echocardiogram
- This can be easier said than done
- This is because the alignment of the echo beam must be perfect
- Otherwise there will be an over diagnosis of this condition
The diagnosis should be made on Parasternal Long Axis only
Definition of Mitral Valve Prolapse. This is a enlarged picture of the previous echocardiogram

So what if I have MVP?
- This depends on the severity of the prolapse/li>
- The greater the prolapse, the more the valve leaks/li>
- Over the long term the back flow of blood to the left atrium will cause it to dilate/li>
- Eventually heart failure develops
Colour flow mapping shows

What do I have to do?
- You will need regular echocardiogaphic examination
- Depending on the severity of the prolapse and MR, the follow up echo may range from 3 to 5 yearly to as frequent as 6 monthly
- The MVP and MR if not severe may be very well tolerated and nothing may need to be done
- But if it becomes severe, valve repair or replacement may need to be carried out