Overview
Mitral stenosis restricts blood flow from the left atrium into the left ventricle during diastole.
Rheumatic valve disease remains an important cause worldwide.
Clinical Features
Symptoms include exertional dyspnea, fatigue, orthopnea, palpitations, and later pulmonary hypertension.
Auscultation classically demonstrates an opening snap followed by a low-pitched mid-diastolic murmur.
Complications
Left atrial enlargement predisposes to atrial fibrillation and thromboembolism.
Severe disease can produce pulmonary hypertension and right-sided heart failure.
Management
Management includes treatment of symptoms and complications, anticoagulation when indicated, and definitive valve intervention for severe symptomatic disease.
Clinical Pearls
Mitral stenosis causes left atrial pressure overload, not primary left ventricular systolic failure.
END OF REVIEW
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