Mitral Valve Prolapse
Treatment Overview
Initial treatment
Most people with Reference mitral valve prolapse Opens New Window (MVP) do not have symptoms and do not need treatment. Regular checkups every 3 to 5 years are usually all that is required. A normal lifestyle and regular exercise are recommended for most people who have MVP.Reference 1
If you have symptoms, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or Reference palpitations Opens New Window, and your heart exam or echocardiogram suggests a higher risk of complications, you may need more frequent checkups, perhaps yearly.
Your doctor may want to do an Reference echocardiogram to confirm that you have mitral valve prolapse, to see whether you have Reference mitral valve regurgitation Opens New Window, or to rule out other heart problems.
Treatment if the condition gets worse
If you have severe mitral valve
regurgitation as a complication of
Reference MVP Opens New Window, you may need surgery to repair the mitral valve.
If your mitral valve cannot be repaired, you may need surgery to replace the
mitral valve. Surgery may also be needed if
other structures related to the Reference mitral valve Opens New Window Reference 
Opens New Window are severely damaged.
In rare cases, severe mitral valve regurgitation, which is a complication of Reference MVP Opens New Window, can lead to Reference heart failure Opens New Window. For more information, see the topics Reference Mitral Valve Regurgitation and Reference Heart Failure.
If you have a rhythm problem called atrial fibrillation, you will be treated for that problem. For more information, see the topic Reference Atrial Fibrillation.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference January 4, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference John A. McPherson, MD, FACC, FSCAI - Cardiology |
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