Mitral valve prolapse

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Heart, section through the middle

Heart valve surgery - series

Mitral valve prolapse

Barlow's syndrome; Floppy mitral valve; Myxomatous mitral valve; Billowing mitral valve; Systolic click-murmur syndrome; Prolapsing mitral leaflet syndrome

You can't usually prevent mitral valve prolapse, but you can prevent certain complications. Tell your health care providers, including your dentist, if you have a history of heart disease or heart valve problems.

Antibiotics are often used to prevent infection, instead of after one develops. This is called prophylactic treatment. If you have mitral valve prolapse with a leaky valve, you will be given antibiotics before dental work or other surgeries to prevent bacteria from getting into your blood and causing dangerous infections. Some health care providers recommend antibiotics if you have moderate to severe mitral valve prolapse and a "click" (murmur) heard with a stethoscope.

Review Date: 07/17/2006
Reviewed By: Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.