In Mitral valve stenosis the pressures in the heart get higher due to the narrowing of the valve.
The heart has to work harder to push the blood across a smaller opening. Patients will become
more short of breath which can progress to shortness of breath at rest, dizziness and light
headedness. As the heart works harder the muscle of the heart begins to thicken. The changes
in the shape of the heart put the patient at risk for a blood clot in the atrium and irregular heart
rhythm (atrial fibrillation).
There are several options for surgical repair of the mitral valve. These include a repair or a full
mitral valve replacement. Most Mitral regurgitation is repairable using different strategies.
Your surgeon will review these options with you and decide which one is best.
Mitral Valve Annuloplasty (Ring):
36

---