Principles of reconstruction

Abstract

Mitral valvular heart disease most often is a chronic illness. In these cases, patients are treated conservatively until the time when symptoms or incipient pulmonary hypertension or ventricular dysfunction indicate the need for surgical intervention. However, on some occasions, mitral valvular heart disease presents itself as an acute illness due to sudden changes in intrinsic valvular function. In these cases, therapeutic decisions must be accomplished rapidly, and the underling pathophysiological disorders always require prompt assessment.