Insufficiency of the mitral valve is one of the types of disease, which has the name acquired heart disease. In this case, the functions of the mitral valve are violated, and it does not completely close, which causes the blood to enter the left atrium, while its volume increases, which is not a positive process for the cardiovascular system and the whole organism as a whole.
Causes of the disease
From the cause depends on how the insufficiency of the mitral valve will develop. There are several factors that influence the appearance of the disease:
1. Congenital disease is a cause that occurs much more often than others. This is due to the fact that during pregnancy, some negative factors (infection, stress, bad ecology, radiation, etc.) influenced the future mother's organism. Congenital insufficiency of the mitral valve can be of several kinds:
- myxomatous degeneration;
- anomalies in the structure of the mitral valve;
- a feature of the structure of tendon threads (chords).
2. Acquired disease is associated with changes in valve flaps. This can be triggered by the following factors:
- rheumatism;
- closed trauma of the heart;
- infective endocarditis ;
- surgical intervention in the treatment of mitral stenosis .
3. Acquired causes that are not related to changes in valve flaps. These include
- tears of tendon threads that attach papillary muscles to the heart muscle;
- defeat of papillary muscles;
- Expansion of a dense ring around the walls of the heart, which is called the fibrous ring.
The last cause of mitral valve failure is the result of inflammation of the heart muscle, an increase in the heart cavity, or a change in the tone of the internal muscles of the heart.
Symptoms of mitral valve insufficiency
The first sign of manifestation of mitral valve insufficiency is a violation of heart rhythms, which entails respiratory distress. To a greater extent, this manifests itself under physical loads, not even large ones. If the patient feels a disturbance of the rhythm of the heart at rest, then the disease progresses. Also, there is rapid fatigue, swelling and pain in the right upper quadrant, which are caused by an increase in the liver. A rather unexpected sign of insufficiency of the mitral valve is a dry cough with discharge.
Among the obvious symptoms that directly indicate no serious heart disease, note:
- cardialgia (aching and stitching, less often - pressing pains in the region of the heart);
- pastose of lower limbs.
Treatment of the disease
The method of treatment of mitral valve insufficiency depends on the stage at which the disease is located. At the first stage, medicamentous treatment is performed, on the second and third - surgical. The fourth and fifth stages are critical, and the patient's condition is not stable, so they rarely resort to surgery.
In the operation, the mitral valve closure function is restored. To do this, narrow the fibrous ring with a special support rigid ring. In the case of calcification and fibrosis, a biological or mechanical prosthesis of the valve is installed. The period of postoperative rehabilitation depends on the patient's condition. This is also based on the attending physician, prescribing procedures and preparations.
Thus, it can be noted that insufficiency of the mitral valve is a difficult disease that is difficult to treat in the second to fifth stages, therefore, with the first symptoms, even distant ones, the doctor should be consulted immediately, since the moderate and relative insufficiency of the mitral valve is much easier to cure .