Mitral Stenosis

Mitral stenosis is a heart condition where the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle becomes narrowed. This valve controls blood flow from the upper to the lower chamber of the heart. When it is narrowed, blood flow is restricted, causing the heart to work harder to pump blood. This can lead to symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and irregular heartbeats. The condition mainly affects the cardiovascular system and can cause complications such as fluid buildup in the lungs. It often develops slowly over time and can significantly impact a person's ability to perform physical activities. Early detection is important to manage symptoms and prevent serious heart problems.

Mitral stenosis is a valvular heart disease characterized by the narrowing of the mitral valve orifice, most commonly due to chronic rheumatic heart disease. The pathological hallmark is fibrosis and calcification of the mitral valve leaflets and fusion of the commissures, leading to impaired blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle during diastole. This results in increased left atrial pressure, left atrial enlargement, and pulmonary venous congestion. Clinically, it manifests with dyspnea, atrial fibrillation, and signs of pulmonary hypertension. The severity of stenosis is typically graded by valve area and pressure gradients. Untreated, it can lead to complications such as thromboembolism and right heart failure.