All India Congress of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 04–08 Jan 2009 · Birla Auditorium, Jaipur

Rheumatic mitral valve stenosis is an important nonobstetric complication of pregnancy and is an important cause of morbidity and mortality during pregnancy. The principal hazard is pulmonary oedema, which may develop with dramatic suddenness. Moderate mitral stenosis during pregnancy may produce the same effects as tight stenosis in the nonpregnant patient. Closed mitral valvotomy is a simple and a low risk procedure in pregnant women to treat the obstruction at the mitral orifice. It prevents complications of severe mitral stenosis occurring in either the mother or the fetus during pregnancy and delivery.