How Is Mitral Stenosis Treated and What Types of Surgery Are Performed?
Treatment methods for mitral stenosis vary depending on the severity of symptoms and the condition of the disease, including medical treatment, balloon valvuloplasty, and surgical intervention.
Medical Treatment
Medical treatment can be used to alleviate symptoms if the patient is in the early stages of mitral stenosis.
Diuretics: Reduce fluid buildup in the heart, lowering pressure in the left atrium and preventing pulmonary edema.
Beta Blockers and Calcium Channel Blockers: Help alleviate symptoms by controlling heart rate.
Anticoagulants: Prevent blood clots in rhythm disorders such as atrial fibrillation.
Balloon Valvuloplasty
This treatment method is generally used as the first choice in patients with symptomatic mitral stenosis. In this method, a balloon is placed in the narrowed mitral valve area via a catheter and inflated to widen the valve. The recovery time after this procedure is shorter compared to open heart surgery.
Surgical Intervention
Surgical intervention is performed on patients for whom balloon valvuloplasty is not suitable or has not been successful. There are two types of surgical options: mitral valve repair and mitral valve replacement.
Mitral Valve Repair
The goal of this method is to correct problems with the mitral valve while preserving the valve’s own tissue and natural function. The following methods can be used in mitral valve repair:
Commissurotomy: Performed to separate the mitral leaflets if they are fused together; it allows the valve to open and improves blood flow.
Cord Reconstruction and leaflet repair: The mitral valve is attached to the heart muscle by structures called chordae tendineae, which are thin structures. In cases of chord fusion, the chords are surgically released, and the shrunken leaflets can be augmented.
Mitral valve repair may yield better results than other surgical methods because it preserves the natural structure of the valve.
Mitral Valve Replacement
This method involves replacing the damaged valve with an artificial valve and is used when repair of the valve is not possible. Two types of artificial valves are used:
Mechanical Valves: Require lifelong anticoagulant (blood thinner) therapy and are preferred for younger patients.
Bioprosthetic Valves: Have a shorter lifespan (10-15 years) and need to be replaced over time. They are recommended for patients over 60 years of age and young women planning to become pregnant. They are considered suitable for patients at high risk of bleeding because they do not require anticoagulant therapy.
Early diagnosis and proper treatment of mitral stenosis are critical for patients’ quality of life. When choosing a treatment method, each patient’s condition should be evaluated individually, and patients should be monitored regularly throughout the treatment period. In addition, the treatment plan should be updated when necessary.
