Abstract
Objective:To determine whether echocardiography affects the decisions to use beta blockers or to recommend bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis in patients suspected of having mitral valve prolapse (MVP).
Design:Retrospective review of echocardiograms and clinical records.
Setting:Military tertiary care hospital.
Patients:127 patients with clinically suspected MVP (105) or incidentally discovered MVP (22).
Main results:Beta blockers were used more often in patients with suspected MVP and positive echocardiograms (45%) than in patients with normal echocardiograms (13%, p<0.001). Bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis was recommended more often in patients with suspected MVP and positive echocardiograms (65%) than in patients with normal echocardiograms (11%, p<0.001). Presence or absence of a murmur did not influence the decision to recommend bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis. Patients in whom MVP was incidentally discovered were unlikely to receive either beta blockers or the recommendation for bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis.
Conclusions:The results of echocardiography affect the decisions to use beta blockers or to recommend bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis in patients with suspected MVP.
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The information contained in this article is the opinion of the authors and should not be construed to represent Department of Defense policy.
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Olive, K.E., Grassman, E.D. Impact of echocardiography on the management of patients with mitral valve prolapse. J Gen Intern Med 5, 470–473 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02600871
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02600871