Does rheumatic heart disease require surgery?

Written by Wang Lei
Cardiology
Updated on September 28, 2024
00:00
00:00

Patients with rheumatic heart disease primarily have involvement of valvular lesions, with the most common being accumulation in the mitral valve, leading to mitral stenosis. In the early stage of the disease, mitral stenosis often has no clinical symptoms and can only be detected through physical examinations, such as auscultation, which may reveal mitral valve murmurs. For patients with asymptomatic rheumatic heart disease, conservative treatment is primarily advised, which includes rest and reducing cardiac load to avoid surgery. Additionally, for severe rheumatic heart disease, mitral stenosis can be very serious, affecting the patient's cardiac function and causing symptoms such as chest tightness and fatigue after activity, and even paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea and inability to lie flat at night. In such cases, surgical treatment is required, such as mitral valvuloplasty or prosthetic valve replacement surgery. Thus, surgery is necessary in the late stages of rheumatic heart disease.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
54sec home-news-image

Is rheumatic heart disease hereditary?

Rheumatic heart disease is not hereditary, and it is not a genetic disease; it is not directly related to genetics. It is mainly due to an abnormal immune response caused by streptococcal infection, which leads to damage to the heart valves, resulting in stenosis and insufficiency of the heart valves. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of rheumatic heart disease. Very rare rheumatic streptococcal infections can be reduced by using effective antibiotics to control the streptococcal infection. Common diseases that cause streptococcal infections include tonsillitis and upper respiratory tract infections. Once tonsillitis or an upper respiratory tract infection occurs, effective antibiotics should be used to control the infection as soon as possible.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
44sec home-news-image

What to do about systemic edema in rheumatic heart disease?

If the patient has rheumatic heart disease, the current treatment mainly focuses on symptomatic treatment. If the patient experiences generalized edema, it may be due to sodium and water retention causing the swelling. In this case, some diuretics can be used to reduce the workload on the heart and improve symptoms. It is recommended that the patient be hospitalized. During this period, some cardiac diuretics can be used to alleviate symptoms. If heart failure is corrected in time, such edema can be reduced. Active symptomatic treatment is still necessary to mitigate the patient's current condition, but during this period, it is also important to monitor changes in the patient's heart rate and blood pressure.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jia Qiu Ju
Cardiology
58sec home-news-image

Do rheumatic heart disease joints feel cold?

Rheumatic heart disease does not cause cold joints during an attack. The main clinical symptoms are primarily heart failure or arrhythmias. However, due to the underlying rheumatic heart disease, there is rheumatic fever. If it is in the acute phase of rheumatic fever, cold joints, swelling, and pain may occur. It is necessary to conduct further tests including rheumatic factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, etc., to clarify the specific cause of the cold joints. Treatment can be directed towards the symptoms that appear. The main focus during an attack of rheumatic heart disease should be on managing heart failure and arrhythmias, maintaining heart function, reducing the burden on the heart, and controlling common arrhythmias, such as episodes of atrial fibrillation, among others.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
50sec home-news-image

What should I do if I have dizziness and nausea due to rheumatic heart disease?

If a patient with rheumatic heart disease experiences dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting, these symptoms require active management. The current treatment for rheumatic heart disease primarily focuses on symptomatic treatment. It also involves the use of medications that improve heart function and reduce cardiac load. This helps in controlling heart rate, blood pressure, and pulse changes, thereby alleviating symptoms. If a patient presents with dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, it could sometimes be due to insufficient cerebral arterial blood supply or ischemic cerebrovascular disease. In such cases, a head CT scan should be performed for a more definitive diagnosis. Treatment may include the use of vasodilators and other medications to improve circulation and provide symptomatic relief.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
1min 7sec home-news-image

How to deal with a cold and fever in rheumatic heart disease?

Patients with rheumatic heart disease who catch a cold and develop a fever may experience a worsening of their existing rheumatic heart disease, with more severe mitral stenosis or regurgitation, and there could also be recurrent attacks of existing heart failure. Therefore, if a person with rheumatic heart disease catches a cold, it is crucial to seek medical treatment early and go for a hospital examination. If it is a viral infection, antiviral treatment should be given, and for bacterial infections, medications to control and kill bacteria should be administered. Furthermore, if there are repeated fevers during the treatment process, physical methods to reduce fever can be used, such as applying a cold cloth or ice pack to the head when the temperature is below 38°C, along with medication therapy using ibuprofen. In short, it is essential to treat colds and fevers early in patients with rheumatic heart disease. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician.)