Mitral stenosis, also known as mitral valve stenosis, is a condition resulting from blockage of mitral valve inside the heart. This blockage or narrowing restricts the blood flow from left atrium into the left ventricle, the main pumping chamber of the heart

There are various causes of mitral stenosis. Some of these include:

Congenital mitral Stenosis: Congenital mitral stenosis is often diagnosed before the age of 2. It may be mild to severe. In severe cases, if children are not given the right treatment, they would not survive past 5 years of age.

Calcium deposits due to older age: With older age, calcium deposits tend build up around the mitral valve stenosis, which can occasionally lead to mitral stenosis.

Damage from infections: Rheumatic fever is the most common cause of mitral stenosis. It occurs when the immune system damages the valve while fighting an untreated bacterial infection. Rheumatic mitral stenosis is often seen in middle aged people & the diagnosis takes years & even decades in same cases.

This implies that people do not find out about this condition for almost 20 to 40 years after their first rheumatic fever. But once symptoms start showing, the disease progresses rather quickly.

As with other heart valve conditions, mitral stenosis too strains the heart & reduces the blood flow. When left untreated, it can lead to

Pulmonary hypertension

Heart failure

Fluid in the lungs

Haert enlargment

Atrial fibrillation

Blood clots

In mild to moderate cases, there may not be any signs at all. In case of women with mitral stenosis, the diagnosis doesn’t occur until they are pregnant as their heart provides blood to a foetus. Common symptoms of mitral stenosis include:

Shortness of breath: It often occurs during physical activity & exercise bit can also happen the patient may be lying down.

Fatigue: The patient often feels exhausted to the point that it makes even normal routine activities difficult.

Coughing up blood: Some patients may tend to cough up blood when the limited blood flow puts pressure not only on the upper chamber of the heart but also in the veins of the lungs.

Palpitations: This occurs when mitral stenosis puts pressure on the upper left chamber of the heart leading to arrhythmia.

Stroke: When the atria are under increased pressure, a clot can form in the heart. It may also travel from heart to the brain where it can get it in smaller blood vessel leading to a stroke.

In children born with mitral valve stenosis, the following symptoms may be noticed.

Difficulty feeding

Cough with wheezing

Difficulty breathing

Slowed growth

Frequent respiratory infections

Breathlessness

The following tests can help determine the condition & its severity

Physical Exam

Echocardiogram

Electrocardiogram

Chest X Ray

Cardiac Catheterisation

While mitral stenosis cannot be cured, it can be effectively managed. Some treatment options may include:

Medications: The patient would be recommended medications to manage blood pressure, symptoms of heart failure, fast heart rhythms & blood thinners to prevent stroke.

Balloon Valvotomy: This involves use of a catheter with a balloon attached. The balloon in inflated when it reaches the mitral valve.

Valve Replacement: In some cases, valve replacement might be an option. This is known as trans catheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR).

Dr. Sudheer Koganti is the best Interventional cardiologist in Hyderad and offers the best treatment for mitral stenosis.