Ask The Doctors: December 2018

An enlarging left ventricle caused by heart failure can strain the muscles and cords connected to the mitral valve, distorting the leaflets and preventing them from closing tightly between beats. When this happens, blood flows backwards into the left atrium, further overloading the heart. The condition, called mitral regurgitation (MR), increases the risk of hospitalization, poor quality of life and death from heart failure. Surgery in these patients is often very risky and may not be beneficial.