Medical Encyclopedia:
Mitral Valve Stenosis: Diagnosis
|
More about Mitral Valve Stenosis:
Definition Causes and symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Prognosis Prevention Resources |
Mitral valve stenosis is usually detected by a physician listening to heart sounds. Normal heart valves open silently to permit the flow of blood. A stenotic valve makes a snapping sound followed by a "rumbling" murmur. The condition can be confirmed with a chest x ray and an electrocardiogram, both of which will show an enlarged atrium. Echocardiography, which produces images of the heart's structure, is also helpful in making the diagnosis. If surgery is necessary, cardiac catheterization may be done to fully evaluate the heart before the operation.
— Dorothy Elinor Stonely
