Treatment for mitral stenosis depends on how severe your symptoms are. If you do not have symptoms,
your healthcare provider will do tests regularly. You may need medicines to treat your symptoms of extra fluid, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), and blood clots. You may also need any of the following if your symptoms become worse:
Balloon valvuloplasty helps widen your mitral valve and allow blood to flow through easier. It is also called a closed valvotomy. A catheter with a balloon on the tip is inserted through a small incision in your arm or groin. The catheter is guided through a blood vessel and into your left atrium near your mitral valve. When the balloon is inflated, it stretches the valve opening.
Commissurotomy is open heart surgery to fix your mitral valve. It is done if valvuloplasty does not correct your mitral stenosis. During a commissurotomy, your surgeon will remove calcium buildup and scar tissue from your valve.
Valve replacement is a surgery to remove part or all of your mitral valve. A new valve is then secured in place. The new valve may be from a donor (another person or animal), or may be an artificial valve. There are 2 different approaches for valve replacement. The first is an open heart procedure. The second is a procedure that replaces the valve through a catheter guided into a vessel in your groin. Your healthcare provider will talk to you about which approach is right for you.
