Here is a good article on Mitral Valve Prolapse
http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/mvp/a/MVP.htm
MVP itself does not appear to be a common reason for surgery, but mitral regurgitation, where blood leaks back through the valve is a potential reason for surgery, and the common procedure is valve replacement.
MVP itself is usually benign (i.e. doesn't impact lifespan or lifestyle) and just regular checkups to ensure that the condition isn't worsening into mitral regurgitation which can be problematic.
MVP is usually congenital ... i.e. you're born with it. For some, it may not be evident until later in life or previous doctors may have simply ignored the characteristic murmur and suddenly you've got a doctor who's concerned about it.
In years gone by, the sound of a heart murmur sent doctors and nurses (and many parents) into a terror scenario, believing there was a major heart defect that could cause the sufferer to drop dead any minute. Fortunately that fear has subsided, but it still lingers today.
Bottom line, have a talk with the doctor. Explain your concerns, armed with this knowledge and get it straight ... is the person with MVP suffering complications like regurgitation from the MVP. Or is a valve replacement in the future likely? Your doctor should take the time to explain these things.
