Mitral Valve Stenosis | Symptoms & Treatment | MedStar Health

Browse this page

A narrow mitral valve that does not allow sufficient blood flow

The mitral valve allows blood to flow between the two left chambers of your heart, the left ventricle and the left atrium. Mitral stenosis does not allow the valve to open properly, decreasing blood flow through the heart. This can lead to pulmonary hypertension, atrial fibrillation, or heart failure.

Our Structural Heart and Valvular Disease Program offers innovative minimally invasive treatment options for heart valve diseases, such as mitral stenosis.

Valvular Stenosis

play button

If a valve becomes narrow, stiff or thickened, the heart must work harder to force blood through the smaller opening. A valve that has become narrowed or thickened can compromise blood flow. This condition is called valvular stenosis.

What are mitral stenosis symptoms?

Image of a heart and mitral valve stenosis

What can cause mitral stenosis?

The most common cause of mitral stenosis is rheumatic fever, which is rare in the United States. Calcium deposits that build up on the valve or untreated strep infections can also cause mitral stenosis.

Tests

 

Diagnosing mitral stenosis is the first step to developing a treatment plan. Our specialists may recommend one or more diagnostic and imaging procedures.
Cardiac Catheterization

Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive way to diagnose and treat a variety of heart and vascular conditions by guiding thin, flexible tubes called catheters through blood vessels to problem areas.

Chest X-Rays

Chest X-rays use a small dose of radiation to create pictures of the structures inside the chest, including the lungs, heart, and chest wall.

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the heart.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

An electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, measures the heart’s electrical activity.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic resonance imaging, better known as cardiac MRI, is a combination of radio waves, magnets, and computer technology to create images of your heart and blood vessels.

Stress Tests

Stress tests are used to assess how your heart works during physical activity. There are several types of stress tests, including treadmill or bike stress tests, nuclear stress tests, stress echocardiograms, and chemically induced stress tests.

Treatments

 

Our heart and vascular teams work together and with other specialties to develop and implement individualized plans to treat a wide variety of conditions. This could include medication or more advanced treatments.
Mitral Valve Disease Treatments

Mitral valve disease treatments may include medication, minimally invasive procedures and surgery to treat a damaged valve.

Mitral Valvuloplasty

Mitral valvuloplasty improves blood flow through the heart to the lungs and body by opening a narrow or stiff heart valve.

Percutaneous Valve Treatments

Percutaneous valve procedures use catheter-based methods to replace a damaged heart valve and are less invasive than traditional open-heart surgeries.

Our providers

Location: Change location Enter your location

Show Next 8 of Show All

Related services

Cardiology


Emergency Medicine


Mitral Valve Disease


Pharmacy


Primary Care


Insurance

MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.