Heart Valve Disease (video)
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Valvular heart disease is any condition that disrupts the proper function of the valve. There are four valves in the heart which help keep blood flowing in a forward direction as the various chambers of the heart squeeze or fill. Normal heart valves open fully to allow blood to flow in a forward direction through the heart and close tightly to prevent blood from flowing backward. There are two general types of valve disease. If the valve does not open properly, the forward flow is restricted. This is called stenosis. If the valve fails to close properly, backward flow is not prevented when the heart pumps. This is called #regurgitation or insufficiency. In either case, forward flow is reduced and symptoms such as breathlessness, weakness, dizziness and fainting can occur.
Aortic Valve stenosis:
Aortic valve stenosis is a condition in which the aortic valve is narrowed. The narrowing or stenosis is caused by valve leaflets that are thickened, calcified and fused. This prevents the valve from opening completely during when the ventricles contract. As a result, blood cannot flow easily into the aorta and pressure builds in the left ventricle. This can damage the heart muscle eventually.
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Symptoms of severe aortic stenosis include: shortness of breath upon exertion, reduced exercise capacity, chest pain or tightness and feeling faint or fainting upon exertion. ⠀
During aorticvalvuloplasty, a guide wire is inserted through a small incision in the thigh and up the aorta and through the stenotic valve. A balloon catheter is then passed over the guide wire. This balloon is inflated to open the narrowed valve. The balloon catheter and guide wire are removed, leaving the valve widened and allowing blood to flow freely out of the heart. There is often some degree of backward leakage through the valve, and many patients will require later intervention.
Mitral Regurgitation:
Valvular heart disease is any condition that disrupts the proper function of the valve. There are four valves in the heart which help keep blood flowing in a forward direction as the various chambers of the heart squeeze or fill. Normal heart valves open fully to allow blood to flow in a forward direction through the heart and close tightly to prevent blood from flowing backward. There are two general types of valve disease. If the valve does not open properly, the forward flow is restricted. This is called stenosis. If the valve fails to close properly, backward flow is not prevented when the heart pumps. This is called regurgitation or insufficiency. In either case, forward flow is reduced and symptoms such as breathlessness, weakness, dizziness and fainting can occur.
@Thrombo75: Clinical pharmacist specialized in line cardiology with an Egyptian pharmaceutical company, Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD.) Cairo university.