My sister undergoes a mitral valve repair surgery in september 2009. recently she is digonose with giant left autricle. heartbeat are little faster?

MV Repair, large LA: Mitral valve repair is typically done for a leaky mitral valve (mitral regurgitation). A severe degree of mitral regurgitation is likely to result in enlargement of the left atrium (la). After repair of the mitral valve, an enlarged la would be expected to remain. An enlarged left atrium may predispose a patient to atrial fibrillation.

Check echo: Repairs are marvelous! however if there is still some leakage-regurgitation it pressures the atrium and the auricle-ear appendage. Many times the atrial appendage is excluded during the valve repair. One needs to compare the echo sizes pre-op and now to ascertain any change. Usually followed with echo without surgery.