Damage to Heart and Valve Replacement

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering heart damage, valvular conditions like stenosis and regurgitation, and the pathophysiology and treatment of infective endocarditis as described in the lecture.

Risk factor for infective endocarditis

Any previous damage to the heart by whatever method, which includes asymptomatic fever and allows less viral microorganisms to form vegetation.

Stenosis

A thickening of the heart valve that results in abnormal function and deformation.

Regurgitation

A condition that can lead to improper closing (piping) when there is shortening of the valves.

Diffuse fibrosis

The microscopic state of the heart tissue after the inflammatory process has abated, characterized by a lot of fibrous tissue.

Surgical replacement

The treatment for chronic valve defects when the valves undergo fibrosis, become deformed, and cease to function normally.

Bacterial endocarditis

The past name for infective endocarditis, which was renamed because the infection can be caused by various microorganisms, not just bacteria.

Vegetations

Growths formed by microorganisms on damaged cardiac tissue or valves that may break off and cause embolism.

Embolism in infective endocarditis

A process where vegetations break off as emboli which will carry infections.

Defective endocarditis risk

A condition more likely to occur when the heart is already damaged, as microorganisms can infect the heart valves more easily.