Mitral stenosis general approach to mitral stenosis
|
Mitral Stenosis Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Mitral stenosis general approach to mitral stenosis On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Mitral stenosis general approach to mitral stenosis |
|
Mitral stenosis general approach to mitral stenosis in the news |
|
Blogs on Mitral stenosis general approach to mitral stenosis |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Mitral stenosis general approach to mitral stenosis |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S. [2]
Overview
Mitral stenosis is narrowing of the heart valve between the two left chambers of the heart (left atrium and left ventricle).
Pathophysiology
- The hallmark anatomical picture in mitral stenosis is commisural fusion.
- Because of closure of the mitral valve pressures build up in the left atrium which reflect back to the pulmonary bed.
- This build up of pressures in the pulmonary bed causes pulmonary hypertension causing right heart failure.
- Left ventricle is unaffected in pure mitral stenosis.
Causes
The cause of mitral stenosis is almost always rheumatic heart disease.
Differentiating Mitral stenosis from other Diseases
Mitral stenosis should be differentiated from:
- Cor triatriatum
- Atrial myxoma
- Pulmonary vein obstruction
Natural History and Complications
Natural History
Mitral stenosis is a disease of plateaus. It is intermittently progressive and has a prolonged clinical course before becoming severe.
Complications
Complications occur in the late stages of progression of the disease. They include:
- Atrial fibrillation
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Right heart failure
- Stroke - due to thrombus formation in the left atrium
Diagnosis
Symptoms
Symptoms of mitral stenosis occur late in the course of the disease as the disease progresses slowly over decades. Common symptoms include:
- Dyspnea
- Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea]]
- Orthopnea
- Hemoptysis
- Palpitations
- Emboli