Heart and Aorta RHEUMATIC HEART DISEASE | Page 8

In rheumatic valvular diseases, Penicillin prophylaxis may be given. Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AF) should receive anticoagulants. If the symptoms are relieved by medications, the treatment can be continued until the disease progresses to the next stage. Sometimes in the course of treatment a decision may have to be taken regarding other treatment methods like surgery. Balloon Valvotomy: ​ In stenotic lesions of Mitral or Pulmonary valves, Dilatation of the stenosed valve by using a special balloon is a favored treatment. The valve must be soft with out calcification and pliable. Very hard valves can not be safely opened with balloon. It may cause balloon to rupture or valve may tear at an undesirable location causing severe valve leak. So the valve anatomy has to be carefully assessed by Echocardiography. Copyright ⓒ 2017 ​ Heart and Aorta​ . All right reserved.