Valvular Heart Disease: Chapter 18 Stenosis and Regurgitation

What are heart valves made of?

Leaflets of endothelium-covered fibrous tissue.

What can injury or damage to a heart valve affect?

The flow of blood through the valve.

What are common causes of valvular heart disease?

Congenital defects, myocardial infarction (MI), trauma, and infection.

What is the gold standard for diagnosing valvular heart disease?

Echocardiography.

What can untreated valvular heart disease lead to?

Heart failure.

What is a common symptom of valve dysfunction?

Turbulent blood flow, often heard as a bruit.

What is the role of anticoagulants in valvular heart disease?

To reduce the risk of blood clotting.

What is rheumatic heart disease (RHD) associated with?

Acute streptococcal infection leading to rheumatic fever.

What is mitral valve prolapse (MVP)?

A common condition often asymptomatic, where the mitral valve does not close properly.

What are the two main types of valve dysfunction?

Stenosis (narrowed valve opening) and regurgitant (insufficiency).

What causes mitral valve stenosis?

Commonly a sequel to rheumatic fever.

What are the clinical presentations of mitral stenosis?

Dyspnea with exertion, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and orthopnea.

What is the treatment for mitral insufficiency?

Medications such as ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, and surgical repair.

What is aortic stenosis?

A condition where the aortic valve is narrowed, increasing resistance to blood flow.

What are common symptoms of aortic stenosis?

Exertional dyspnea, angina pectoris, and pulmonary edema.

What is the treatment for aortic insufficiency?

Aortic valve replacement.

What is pulmonic stenosis?

Narrowing of the pulmonic valve that increases workload on the right ventricle.

What are the signs of tricuspid valve disorders?

Blood backflows into the right atrium, leading to signs of right-sided heart failure.

What is the significance of heart sounds S1 and S2?

S1 is the closure of AV valves, and S2 is the closure of semi-lunar valves.

What is a common treatment for valve disorders?

Valve repair or replacement.

What is the role of prophylactic antibiotics in valvular heart disease?

To prevent infection in patients with prosthetic valves before invasive procedures.

What can cause mitral insufficiency?

Mitral valve prolapse, rheumatic heart disease, and infective endocarditis.

What is the clinical presentation of mitral valve prolapse?

May include dizziness, palpitations, and atypical chest pain.

What is the treatment for severe mitral valve prolapse?

Typical mitral insufficiency signs/symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

What is the impact of aging on heart valves?

Calcific changes occur, leading to murmurs, especially in mitral and aortic valves.

What is the significance of heart murmurs?

They indicate turbulent blood flow and can be physiological or pathological.

What are the types of echocardiography used for diagnosis?

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), and Doppler echocardiography.

What is the grading scale for heart murmurs?

Grade 1 is minimal sound, and grade 6 is sound heard with the stethoscope off the chest wall.