Rheumatic mitral valve disease: current surgical status.
Rheumatic heart disease is the most serious sequelae of rheumatic fever occurring in approximately 30% of rheumatic fever patients. Patients with acute rheumatic fever may develop varying degrees of pancarditis with associated valve disease, heart failure, and pericarditis. Worldwide, rheumatic heart disease remains a major health problem although its prevalence in the developed countries is much reduced. Involvement of the mitral valve results in mitral regurgitation and/or stenosis. Where surgery is indicated, mitral valve replacement is usually necessary although in some cases, mitral valve repair is possible.
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Hammersmith Hospital, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, United Kingdom.
Mustafa
M
Zakkar
Emre
E
Amirak
K M John
KM
Chan
Prakash P
PP
Punjabi
D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*