Family Nurse Practitioner Practice Exam

Mitral valve prolapse is characterized by the abnormal displacement of the mitral valve leaflets during the heart's contraction, which can lead to various complications. Among these complications, mitral stenosis is the least likely to be associated with mitral valve prolapse. Mitral stenosis is primarily a narrowing of the mitral valve opening, often due to rheumatic fever or calcification, rather than a consequence of mitral valve prolapse.

In contrast, severe mitral regurgitation can occur when the prolapsed valve does not close properly, allowing blood to flow backward into the left atrium. Endocarditis, an infection of the heart valves, can also develop in patients with mitral valve prolapse due to the structural changes that predispose the valve to bacterial colonization. Additionally, there is a recognized but small increased risk of stroke in individuals with mitral valve prolapse, largely due to the potential for arrhythmias or the formation of thrombi in the left atrium.

Thus, while the other complications are associated with mitral valve prolapse, mitral stenosis arises from different pathophysiological processes, making it the least likely complication in this context.