Barlow’s syndrome is the most common cardiovascular disease that is also referred to as mitral valve prolapse. It is characterized by a bileaflet prolapse larger than 2 mm, severe annual dilatation, and a billowing valve with excessively thickened leaflets that are greater than 3 mm (Siordia, 2016). The disease can be caused by genetic mutations affecting collagen fibers in the mitral valve. The reasons for these changes in the elastic and collagen tissues may be connected with degradation, defective formation, or both (Siordia, 2016). There are two forms of mitral valve prolapse based on etiology: primary and secondary. The primary form is characterized by the absence of identifiable connective tissue and fibroelastic disease. The secondary form is associated with such connective tissue diseases as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Marphan syndrome (Chalal et al., 2019). Most patients do not experience any symptoms and do not require operative treatment.
The nurse should explain to the patient the importance of avoiding caffeine and other stimulants. The patient also should learn about stress reduction and relaxation techniques. Cardio exercises are also an important part of mitral valve prolapse treatment. Pain relievers such as low dose of aspirin can be applied in case of pain (Chalal et al., 2019). For the patients with mitral valve prolapse experiencing the episodes of tachycardia and rapid heartbeats the use of beta-blockers is allowed.
The nurse should define the methods of intervention by consulting with the patient’s cardiologist. The patient should be allowed to share their concerns and feelings about the mitral valve prolapse. The patient should be instructed to keep a weekly record of symptoms for one month. An adequate fluid intake should be provided by the patient. The nurse should explain about the importance of prevention of infective endocarditis risk with prophylactic antibiotics during dentist invasive procedures (Chalal et al., 2019). In general, the treatment plan for the patients with the Barlow’s syndrome should include changing the lifestyle, including healthy eating and exercises.
References
Chalal A. A., Bouatia-Naji N. Genetics of mitral valve prolapse and its clinical impact.E-Journal of Cardiology Practice, 16(35).
Siordia J.A. (2016) Current Discoveries and Interventions for Barlow’s Disease. Current Cardiology Reports, 18(8). doi: 10.1007/s11886-016-0754-5.