Surgery
Valve damage is the main pathology of RHD, with the mitral valve sustaining the most damage compared to the aortic and tricuspid valves. As descried within the pathophysiology section, repeated bouts of ARF, causes scaring and thickening of the heart’s valves, preventing the heart from functioning properly. In advanced cases of RHD, patients may develop heart failure like symptoms, such as shortness of breath and arrhythmias, due to the decreased capacity of the hearts valves. In these circumstances, as well as pursuing prophylactic antibiotic treatment, patients may require surgical repair of their valves.
