Heart and Vascular Care – Valvular Regurgitation – New York – Montefiore Medical Center

Valvular regurgitation, or "leaky valve," is a type of heart valve disease that occurs when a heart valve does not close properly. This causes blood to leak back through the heart valve into the chambers rather than flowing forward through the heart or into an artery. As a result, the heart has to work harder and less blood may flow through the body.

Regurgitation is most prevalent in the mitral heart valve, although it can also occur in the aortic, pulmonary and tricuspid heart valves. Individuals at high risk for valve regurgitation include those who have a history of valve prolapse, have had a past heart attack, use ergotamine or other migraine medications, have certain congenital birth defects, or have had rheumatic fever or endocarditis.

Montefiore Medical Center's Heart Valve Repair Program offers a full range of treatments for valvular regurgitation, including:

• Medication management
• Interventional procedures
• Valve repair surgery
• Valve replacement surgery (both minimally invasive and open)