8. Valvular Heart Disease Flashcards
Name 4 valvular heart diseases.
- Aortic stenosis.
- Mitral regurgitation.
- Mitral stenosis.
- Aortic regurgitation.
After a valve replacement, a patient starts showing signs of heart failure. What can this be indicative of?
Heart failure
After a valve replacement, a patient presents with splinter haemorrhages and Osler’s nodes. What can this be indicative of?
Infective Endocarditis (IE).
After a valve replacement, a patient presents with bruising and pale conjunctiva. What can this be indicative of?
Over-anticoagulation.
After a valve replacement, a patient presents with jaundice and pale conjunctiva. What can this be indicative of?
Haemolysis.
Briefly describe aortic stenosis.
A disease where the aortic orifice is restricted and so the LV can’t eject blood properly in systole = pressure overload.
Describe the aetiology of aortic stenosis.
- Congenital bicuspid valve. and its calcification.
- Acquired e.g. age-related degenerative calcification and rheumatic heart disease.
Describe the pathophysiology of aortic stenosis.
Aortic orifice is restricted e.g. by calcific deposits and so there is a pressure gradient between the LV and the aorta. LV function is initially maintained due to compensatory hypertrophy. Overtime this becomes exhausted = LV failure.
Give 3 signs of aortic stenosis.
- Slow rising carotid pulse and decreased pulse amplitude.
- Soft or absent heart sounds.
- Ejection systolic murmur: <> shape.
Give 3 symptoms of aortic stenosis.
- Exertional syncope
- Angina
- Exertional dyspnoea
- Orthopnoea
- Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea
- Palpitations
- CCF (congestive cardiac failure)
Onset of symptoms is associated with poor prognosis.
What is the classical triad of symptoms in aortic stenosis?
SAD:
Syncope
Angina
Dyspnoea - heart failure
What investigation might you do in someone who you suspect to have aortic stenosis?
Echocardiography.
What murmur is heard in aortic stenosis?
Ejection systolic murmur
What would you see on a CXR of a patient with aortic stenosis?
Normal heart size, prominent ascending aorta, valvular calcification
What would you expect to see on an ECG in aortic stenosis?
P mitrale, LVH with strain pattern (depressed ST and T wave inversion in I, AVL, V5 and V6)
Describe the management for someone with aortic stenosis.
- Ensure good dental hygiene.
- Consider IE prophylaxis.
- Aortic valve replacement or TAVI.
How would you treat aortic stenosis?
Prompt valve replacement
Who should be offered an aortic valve replacement?
- Symptomatic patients with aortic stenosis.
- Any patient with decreasing ejection fraction.
- Any patient undergoing CABG with moderate/severe aortic stenosis.
What is mitral regurgitation?
Back flow of blood from the LV to the LA during systole - LV volume overload.
Describe the aetiology of mitral regurgitation.
- Myxomatous degeneration.
- Ischaemic mitral regurgitation.
- Rheumatic heart disease.
- IE.
Prolapsing mitral valve + rheumatic heart disease = most common
Infective endocarditis, annular calcification, LV dilatation, ruptured chordae tendinae, papillary muscle rupture.
connective tissue disorders (Ehlers-Danos, Marfan’s).
cardiomyopathy, congenital.
What is the pathophysiology of mitral regurgitation?
LV volume overload! Compensatory mechanisms: LA enlargement and LVH and increased contractility. Progressive LV volume overload -> dilatation and progressive HF.
Give 2 symptoms of mitral regurgitation.
- Dyspnoea on exertion.
- HF
Give 3 signs of mitral regurgitation.
- Pansystolic murmur (always there).
- Soft 1st heart sound.
- 3rd heart sound.
In chronic MR the intensity of the murmur correlates with disease severity.
What investigations might you do in someone who you suspect to have mitral regurgitation?
- ECG.
- CXR.
- Echocardiogram: estimates LA/LV size and function.
What murmur is heard in mitral regurgitation?
Pansystolic murmur