Mitral stenosis commonly predisposes to which complications?

Mitral stenosis commonly predisposes to which complications?

• A. Atrial fibrillation and thromboembolism
• B. Pulmonary edema due to left heart failure
• C. Aortic dissection
• D. Ventricular tachycardia

Answer: (A)

Mitral stenosis raises pressure in the left atrium and causes its progressive enlargement. This stretched atrial tissue is prone to developing atrial fibrillation, a common rhythm disturbance in this condition. When atrial fibrillation occurs, the atrial contractions are ineffective and blood flow becomes stagnant, especially in the left atrial appendage. This stasis promotes thrombus formation, and those clots can embolize to the systemic circulation, causing strokes or other thromboembolic events. This combination—atrial fibrillation with thromboembolism—is the characteristic and most frequent complication linked to mitral stenosis. While pulmonary edema from high left atrial pressures can happen, it’s not as specific to mitral stenosis as the thromboembolism risk with atrial fibrillation. Aortic dissection and ventricular tachycardia are not typical complications of this valve lesion.

Mitral stenosis raises pressure in the left atrium and causes its progressive enlargement. This stretched atrial tissue is prone to developing atrial fibrillation, a common rhythm disturbance in this condition. When atrial fibrillation occurs, the atrial contractions are ineffective and blood flow becomes stagnant, especially in the left atrial appendage. This stasis promotes thrombus formation, and those clots can embolize to the systemic circulation, causing strokes or other thromboembolic events. This combination—atrial fibrillation with thromboembolism—is the characteristic and most frequent complication linked to mitral stenosis. While pulmonary edema from high left atrial pressures can happen, it’s not as specific to mitral stenosis as the thromboembolism risk with atrial fibrillation. Aortic dissection and ventricular tachycardia are not typical complications of this valve lesion.