Exam 2: Lecture 1 (Kirk) Flashcards
Under normal circumstances:
The aortic valve has ______ leaflets
The mitral valve has ______ leaflet
Aortic valve has three leaflets
Mitral valve has 2 leaflets

What is the basic difference between
a stenotic valve
a insufficient valve
A stenotic valve is a valve that doesn’t open all the way
An insufficient valve is a valve that doesn’t close all the way
What are some important vessels that branch off the aorta?
The coronary arteries branch off the aorta
Major Causes of Aortic Stenosis?
Explain the term “senile aortic stenosis” and what it is caused by
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Senule Aortic Stenosis is essentially caused by atherosclerosis.
- Cellular proliferation of valve interstitual cells (builds up where leaflets connect)
- Lipid accumulation
- Inflammation with monocyte/macrophage infiltration of valve leaflets
- Valvular calcification and fusion of the leaflets is predominant

Explain the causes begind a cogenitially deformed aortic valve?
Congenitally deformed aortic valves may have turbulent flow as the major cause of endothelial disruption, matrix _____, and _____ deposition
Congenitally deformed aortic valve:
malformed during development, most commonly 2 leaflets instead of 3 (aka bicuspid aortic valve)
Congenitally deformed aortic valve: may have turbulent flow as the major cause of endothelial disruption, matrix deposition, and calcium deposition

Explain how Acute Rheumatic Fever can cause aortic valve stenosis
Rheumatic aortic valve inflammation, bubrosis, and calcification following ARF caused by strep throat and scarlet fever
Rheumatic Aortic Stenosis:
endocardial inflammation followed by calcification (as in the mitral version as well)
aka inflammation of the endocardial tissue can cause inflammation of the valve itself and cause calcium to collect there

Pathophysiology of Aortic Stenosis:
- Normal aortic valve orifice is _____ cm2
- As valve becomes stenotic, lefleats _____ and the open valve area is _____
- When valve area is reduced by ___%, elevated LV pressure during systole is required to drive blood across the narrowed opening
Pathophysiology of Aortic Stenosis:
- Normal aortic valve orifice is 3-4 cm<strong>2</strong>
- As the valve becomes stenotic, leaflets fuse and the open valve area is reduced
- When the valve area is reduced by 50%, elevated LV pressure during systole is required to drive blood across the narrowed opening
Pathophysiology of Aortic Stenosis:
- Aortic stenosis developes ______
- LV can compensate for the narrowed orifice by undergoing ____________ in response to the pressure overload
Pathophysiology of Aortic Stenosis:
- Aortic Stenosis develops gradually (even patients with bicuspid valves develop significant AS only in their 40-50’s).
- The LV can compensate for the narrowed orifice by undergoing concentric left ventricular hypertropy (LVH) in response to the pressure overload
Ventricular Remodeling in Pressure-Overload Induced LVH:
- Increases systolic wall stress induces a ________ in cardiomyocytes
- Cell increase in width by ______
Aortic Stenosis: Ventricular Remodeling in Pressure-Overload Induced LVH
- Increased systolic wall stress induces a growth response in cardiomyocytes
- Cell increase in width by adding additional sarcomeres in parallel
- The increased myocyte width accounts for most of the increase in wall thickness
Ventricular Remodeling in pressure-overload induced LVH:
- Both LVH and fibrosis increase passive myocardial stiffness, reducing _______ during the passive filling phase, eventually causing an increase in ______
Left atrium also undergoes hypertrophy in response to elevated ___
Increased wall stiffness places increased burden on LA contraction to fill LV _____
- Both LVH and fibrosis increase passive myocardial stiffness, reducing ventricular compliance during passive filling phase, eventually causing an increase in left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP)
- Left atrium also undergoes hypertrophy in response to elevated LVEDP
- Increased wall stiffness places increased burden on LA contraction to fill LV at the end of diastole (greater reliance on LA “kick”)
What are some clinical signs of patients with significant Aortic Stenosis?
Clinical presentations of patients with hemodynamically significant Aortic Stenosis:
Exertional Angina, Exertional Syncope, Excertional Dyspnea
If the aortic stenosis gets bad enough and goes untreated, it can become Congestive Heart Failure
Symptoms are related to valve area in aortic stenosis:
- Normal Valve area is ______
Symptoms in aortic stenosis
- _______: usually no symptoms
- ______ mild AS
- _______ severe AS
Symptoms are related to valve area in aortic stenosis:
- Normal Valve area is 3-4 cm2
- Symptoms in Aortic Stenosis:
- > 2 cm2 : usually no symptoms
- 1.5-2.0 cm2 : Mild AS
- < 1.0 cm2: Severe AS

Pathophysiology of Angina with Aortic Stenosis:
- Increased systolic wall stress _____ myocardial O2 consumption
- Hypertrophied LV requires _______
- Rising LVEDP, does what to the coronary arteries?
Pathophysiology of Angina with Aortic Stenosis:
- Increased systolic wall stress increases myocardial O2 consumption
- Hypertrophied LV requires more O2 nutrients
- Rising LVEDP, especially during exercise, reduces flow gradient by compressing subendocardial vasculature and reducing Coronary blood flow
HENCE WHY CHEST PAIN DURING EXERTION
Pathophysiology of Syncope in Aortic Stenosis:
- Fall in Cardiac Output with Exercise:
- stenotic aortic valve limits ability to ________
- exercise also causes a reduction in ________
- Combination of these two lead to a ________ in BP with exercise
- Results in exercise- induced syncope
Fall in Cardiac Output with Exercise:
- Stenotic aortic valve limits ability to increase cardiac output during exercise
- Exercise also causes a reduction in systemic vascular resistance
- Combination leads to DECREASE in blood pressure with exercise
Results in exercise induced syncope
CHF in AS:
- Abnormally increased LA pressure causes ______
- LVH also causes an impairment in _____, contributing to heart failure
- AS is a potential cause of HF with ________
CHF in Aortic Stenosis:
- Abnormally increased LA pressure causes backward transmission of pressure into pulmonary venous system
- LVH also causes impairment in LV diastolic function, contributing to heart failure
- AS is a potential cause of HF with Preserved Ejection Fraction (Diastolic HF)
Hemodynamics in AS:
Explain the difference in the PV loop and the wigger’s diagram for patients with Aortic Stenosis?
What happens to Left Ventricle Pressure curve?
Any other findings on the Wigger Diagram?
What happens to the PV loop?
Wigger Diagram: increase in LVP curve due to stenotic valve, greater reliance on atrial kick to fill LV during diastole, new presence of a systolic murmur
PV Loop: Increased EDP, Increased Afterload, Increased contractility

Physical Findings in Aortic Stenosis:
- __________murmur
- Evidence of ____ (systolic heave)
- Abnormal ____ pulse
- Loud ____
- Reduced or absence of ____
Physical Findings in Aortic Stenosis:
- Systolic ejection murmur
- Evidence of LVH (systolic heave)
- Abnormal carotid pulse
- Loud S4
- Reduced or absent aortic component of S2
Explain what TAVR is… what does it fix?
TAVR stands for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
They put in a catheter through an artery, go into aortic valve, put in a baloon etc
TopHat Question:
How does the heart compensate to gradual development of aortic stenosis?
Heart compensates for Aortic Stenosis by “concentric hypertropy”
Note: concentric hypertrophy is a response to pressure overload (stenosis)
Eccentric hypertrophy is a response to volume overlaod
Explain the basic nature of aortic insufficiency/ regurgitation and then list the four classifications of AR
Basic explanation: the aortic valve is homehow insufficient in that it allows blood to flow back from the aortic space into the LV
This is classified as:
Acute AR, Chronic AR
Diseases of Aortic Root, or Diseases of Aortic Leaflets
Explain the causes of Aortic Regurgitation in terms of Valve Leaflet Abnormalities vs Dilatation of the Aortic Root
Abnormalities of Valve Leaflets
- Congenital (bicuspid valve)
- Endocarditis
- Rhematic
(endocarditis and rheumatic fever based AR are based on inflammation that affects the aortic valve’s ability to close)
Dilatation of Aortic Root:
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Dissection
- Syphillis

Pathophysiology of Acute AR:
- In Acute AR there is _______ of the valvular leak
- In Acute AR, there is _________ for LV remodeling to occur
- In Acute AR, regurgitant volume _________ pressure in LV, causing _______ in LA and therefore causing ________
Acute AR:
- In Acute AR, there is rapid development of the valvular leak
- In Acute AR, there is insufficient time for LV remodeling to occur
- In Acute AR, regurgitant volume increases pressure in LV, causing increased pressure in LA, and pulmonary congestion

Pathophysiology of Chronic AR:
- In Chronic AR, there is ____ development of the valvular leak
- In Chronic AR, there is _______ for LV remodeling to occur
- That LV remodeling is called “________”
- In Chronic AR, regurgitant volume increases _______, with less of an increase in _____, and less ______
- Patients remain ________ for a long period
CHRONIC AR:
- In Chronic AR, there is a slow development of the valvular leak
- In Chronic AR, there is time for LV remodeling to occur (volume overload)
- “Eccentric LV Remodeling”
- In Chronic AR, regurgitant volume increases pressure in LV slowly, with less of an increase in LA pressure, and less pulmonary congestion
- Patients remain asymptomatic for a long period of years

Explain the Hemodynamics of Chronic AR;
What are the changes to the Wigger Diagram?
Changes to the PV Loop?
Chronic AR:
Higher LV Pressure (due to more volume)
INCREASED PP
Diastolic Leak
Two heart murmurs: cres/dec and diastolic murmur due to regurgitation
PV Loop: decreased contractility, decreased stiffness, increased SV




