Surgical Treatment of Mitral Stenosis

Abstract

With the greater safety of open heart surgery and better prostheses, valve replacement is being undertaken more often in patients with mitral stenosis requiring surgical treatment, particularly in those whose valves are heavily calcified. For many patients, however, it is best to have a closed valvotomy as a first operation. If a second procedure is required later, open heart surgery probably will be still safer and the prostheses better.