CHF secondary to mitral valve prolapse Patient was brought to the Emergency Room by her family because of difficulty breathing and palpitations.
Patient reports that she has experienced these symptoms for the past 6 months, but this episode is more
severe than any previous. Upon admission in the ER, heart rate was 120 beats per minute and blood pressure
was 180/110. The results of an EKG and cardiac enzyme blood tests were normal. She was admitted for a
complete workup for tachycardia and hypertension.
Patient underwent a full battery of diagnostic tests. A prolapsed mitral valve was observed by
echocardiography. A stress test had to be stopped early due to onset of severe difficulty in breathing,
Angiocardiography failed to demonstrate significant CAD. Blood pressure and tachycardia were con-
trolled with medications. At discharge, HR was 88 beats per minute and blood pressure was 165/98.
There was no evidence of a myocardial infarction or significant CAD. Patient was placed on a low-salt
and low-cholesterol diet. She received instructions on beginning a carefully graded exercise program.
She is to continue her medications. If symptoms are not controlled by these measures, a mitral valve
replacement will be considered,
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Definition
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