Mitro Valve Prolapse What to Take - Heart Disorders Message Board

yort75 · 10-12-2008, 08:06 AM

i have mitro valve prolapse, so should i be pre-medicated before getting a tatoo? Troy

aether4 · 10-12-2008, 08:25 AM

It's no longer required to take antibiotics before dental work - and you have a chance of actually swallowing the bacteria there.

I'd say, nothing is needed. Make sure you're going to a good studio that does sterilize everything properly (don't let a friend do it, they can't autoclave everything). If concerned tell them about your heath problems. A good shop and tattooist will know to be careful.

If you're still unsure, give your doctor a quick call.

harka · 10-12-2008, 01:06 PM

Just to add: there are only about four situations where you need antibiotics to prevent a heart infection (i.e. endocarditis) and you only do that before dental procedures--nothing else. These situations include:

1. Complex cyanotic heart disease (always a congenital malformation)
2. Previous bout of endocarditis
3. Having a prosthetic heart valve
4. Having a heart transplant and you have developed valvular disease.

In most other situations, the risk of getting a bacteremia (i.e. bacteria in your bloodstream) which then cling to your heart valves to cause infection (bacterial endocarditis) is so low that prophylactic antibiotics are not required. The risk of endocarditis with mitral valve prolapse is very low so you definitely don't need to worry.