Aortic Valve Disease Flashcards
What are the 3 main causes/etiologies of aortic stenosis?
Congenital valve malformation i.e. Bicuspid aortic valve
Rheumatic
“Senile” calcific disease
What happens to the valve to cause stenosis in bicuspid aortic valve?
Wear and tear on the valve causes calcium to build up and inhibit opening
What happens to the valve to cause stenosis in rheumatic disease?
Fuses the comissures - causing scarring
What happens to the valve to cause stenosis in “senile” calcific disease?
Valve was normal but wear and tear caused build up of calcium
What factors does aortic stenosis have in common with coronary atherosclerosis?
Both more common in men, elderly, and patient with hypercholesterolemia
Derived in part from inflammatory process
Which etiology does aortic stenosis before the age of 60 indicate?
Bicuspid valve
Which etiology does aortic stenosis after the age of 60 indicate?
Probably “senile” calcific valve
What happens to the LV when there is aortic stenosis?
Aortic stenosis –> increased pressure in LV –> LV concentric hypertrophy –> increased LV stiffness
What symptoms make up the clinical triad of aortic stenosis?
Congestive heart failure
Angina Pectoris
Syncope (effort related)
What are physical diagnosis signs of aortic stenosis?
Murmur
Ejection click
Carotid artery pulsation
S4 sound (atrial gallop)
Describe the murmur heard in aortic stenosis
Crescendo-decrescendo between S1 and S2
Describe the ejection click heard in aortic stenosis
High frequency sound hear just after S1
Occurs at the time of aortic valve opening
Describe the carotid artery pulsation felt in aortic stenosis
Because of obstruction, upstroke of carotid may be slowed and can feel a slow rise in carotid on palpation
If stroke volume is low (later in disease), can palpate flow turbulence, felt as a vibration
Pulsus parvus et tardus (small and late pulse)
Describe the S4 sound heard in aortic stenosis
Tap right before S1 (presystolic)
Reflects a stiff left ventricle that you can feel at apex
What etiology of aortic stenosis does the ejection click suggest?
Bicuspid valve
What is a good sentence to remember that S4 goes with aortic stenosis?
“A stiff wall”
Where S4 is the “A”