Mitral Valve Disease Treatment in India

Emily Joshi, a 68-year-old retired librarian,...

Emily Joshi, a 68-year-old retired librarian, had always been active, but over the past year, she found herself increasingly breathless. Simple tasks like climbing the stairs to her apartment or walking her dog left her panting and exhausted. She also noticed a persistent, dry cough, especially at night, and her ankles would swell. Her primary care physician heard a heart murmur and referred her to a cardiologist. After an echocardiogram confirmed severe mitral valve regurgitation, her cardiologist, Dr. Chen, explained that her valve was leaking, forcing her heart to work harder. He recommended a minimally invasive mitral valve repair. Terrified of open-heart surgery, Emily was relieved by the robotic-assisted approach. The procedure went smoothly, and after three days in the hospital, she went home. Recovery involved gradual walking and cardiac rehab. Six months later, her breathlessness is gone, she's back to her book club walks, and the constant anxiety about her heart has lifted, replaced by a deep gratitude for her renewed vitality.