Patient was educated on mitral stenosis and its pathophysiology as follows:
- A normal functioning mitral valve opens, when the left atrium contracts, allowing oxygenated blood from the left atrium to be pumped into the left ventricle. Upon contraction of left ventricle, this blood will be pumped into the aorta, to be distributed to all the vital organs in the body.
- Mitral stenosis is an abnormal condition of narrowing of the mitral valve opening, secondary to inability of the valve to open completely.
- Incomplete opening of the mitral valve with narrowing results in restriction of the blood flow from the left atrium to left ventricle, when the left atrium contracts.
- Obstruction to free flow of blood during left atrial contraction reduces the volume of oxygenated blood pumped out of the left atrium into the left ventricle.
- Reduced volume of oxygenated blood in the left ventricle leads to reduced output from the left ventricle during left ventricular contraction. Consequently, this results in compromised blood and oxygen supply to the vital organs, thus affecting their function.
- Also, increased back-up of blood in left atrium can result in increased blood volume and pressure in the left atrium, enlargement of the left atrium, progressive weakening of the left atrial muscle, and left atrial failure. Over a period of time, this increased volume and pressure in the left atrium can result in increased resistance to receiving oxygenated blood from the pulmonary circuit, increased back-up of blood in pulmonary circulation, increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary edema resulting in difficulty with exchange of gases, and shortness of breath.
