PVL Leakage — Which Doctor Should I See?

PVL leakage refers to paravalvular leakage, where blood leaks around a heart valve (natural or artificial) due to incomplete closure. This occurs between the valve and the surrounding tissue.

Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, heart murmurs, irregular heartbeat, chest discomfort, and fluid retention. Some patients experience no symptoms and discover it during routine echocardiograms.

PVL leakage is primarily diagnosed through echocardiography, which uses ultrasound to visualize the heart and detect blood flow abnormalities. CT imaging may also be used for detailed evaluation.