| Your heart's four valves (pulmonic, tricuspid, aortic, | | | | normally recommend medications to help regulate |
| and mitral) help regulate the flow of blood as it | | | | them. These might include diuretics to help control |
| moves between the atria, ventricles, and lungs. | | | | fluid buildup in the lungs. Anticoagulants may be |
| These valves are comprised of leaflets that open and | | | | administered to reduce the blood's clotting ability. If |
| close based on the contractions of the individual | | | | the patient is undergoing surgery, antibiotics might be |
| chambers. For example, your mitral valve (MV) | | | | prescribed to help prevent the onset and spread of |
| regulates blood flow between the left atrium and left | | | | infection. |
| ventricle. When the atrium contracts, the leaflets (or | | | | It's worth emphasizing that drug therapy will not cure |
| flaps) open to allow blood to flow into the ventricle. | | | | stenosis. Medications merely help to control |
| When all of the blood has left the atrium, the flaps | | | | symptoms. Resolving a stenotic mitral valve requires |
| close to prevent backflow. | | | | a more invasive approach. |
| One of the disorders that can affect the MV is a | | | | Overview Of Balloon Valvotomy |
| condition called stenosis. This article will describe the | | | | Balloon valvotomy is one of the most common ways |
| disorder and explain some of the strategies | | | | to treat mitral stenosis. It is a nonsurgical technique |
| employed to address it. In some cases, medication is | | | | that uses a catheter equipped with a tiny balloon on |
| sufficient. However, when drugs are unable to reduce | | | | its tip. The catheter is inserted in the groin and guided |
| the symptoms, a procedure called balloon valvotomy | | | | through a blood vessel toward the heart. It enters |
| may be appropriate. | | | | the heart's right atrium. The doctor will make a tiny |
| Mitral Stenosis Explained | | | | hole in the septum (the wall that separates the |
| A stenotic mitral valve is one that is narrowed to the | | | | heart's left and right sides) and thread the catheter |
| point of limiting blood flow between the left atrium | | | | through it toward the mitral valve. |
| and left ventricle. This narrowing is due to the two | | | | Once the balloon is positioned between the leaflets, |
| leaflets having become stiff or hard. Most patients | | | | the doctor will inflate and deflate it multiple times. |
| who have a stenotic MV suffered rheumatic fever | | | | This gradually widens the gap between them. After |
| when they were young. The fever caused infection | | | | the doctor is satisfied the MV is wide enough, the |
| near the valve, which triggered an attack from their | | | | balloon-equipped catheter is withdrawn. The insertion |
| immune system. This attack, in turn, caused the | | | | site is closed and bandaged, and the patient is moved |
| leaflets to stiffen or harden. | | | | into a recovery unit. |
| Because blood is prevented from flowing freely, it | | | | Postoperative Recovery |
| remains within the atrium. This causes blood to back | | | | To prevent bleeding, the patient is required to lie on |
| up into the lungs, which can eventually lead to heart | | | | his or her back for several hours. An echocardiogram |
| failure, atrial fibrillation, blood clots, and congestion. | | | | is taken either that day or the following morning in |
| Patients who suffer from a stenotic MV often | | | | order to provide an image of the newly-widened |
| experience dizziness, chest pain, breathing difficulties, | | | | mitral valve. This image allows the doctor to |
| and swelling within the feet. | | | | determine whether the procedure was successful (i.e. |
| Noninvasive Treatment: Medications | | | | the MV is sufficiently wide to allow blood flow). |
| If the patient's symptoms are mild, doctors will | | | | |