Mitral Annular Calcification: What Should Patients Know?

Severe mitral valve regurgitation is a serious heart condition where the mitral valve doesn't close tightly, causing blood to flow backward in the heart. This can lead to symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations. This serious condition can be caused by mitral annular calcification. However, patients may wonder what mitral annular calcification means for them. For example, Bruce asks, "What is it about severe mitral annual calcification that makes it difficult to operate on?" To answer this question, we met with Dr. Patrick McCarthy. A leading cardiac surgeon from Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. (Video posted on August 7, 2024)