Anaesthetic considerations in patients with mitral valve prolapse

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP), reported as occurring in up to 17% of healthy individuals, is considered to be the commonest cardiac valvular abnormality. Although the anaesthetic course may be uneventful, complications may arise for the first time in the peri-operative period and include life threatening dysrhythmias, mitral regurgitation and infective endocarditis. Anaesthetic management of three of the seven patients with MVP treated at our institution over a 12-month period is discussed and the literature reviewed.