heart valve disease

Question 1

what is valve stenosis

Answer 1

narrowing of the heart valves

Question 2

what is valve incompetence

Answer 2

regurgitation of the valves or improper closing so blood can flow back through

Question 3

what valves lie on the left side of the heart?

Answer 3

bicuspid valve

aortic

Question 4

what valves lie on the right side of the heart?

Answer 4

tricuspid

pulmonary

Question 5

what drug will a metal valve replacement patient be on? what implications does this have?

Answer 5

anticoagulation - so must take an INR when performing oral surgery due to bleeding complications.

Question 6

what may cause valve abnormalities?

Answer 6

congenital heart defects

rheumatic fever through streptococci infection

myocardial infarction through papillary muscle rupture

Question 7

benefits / drawbacks of a metal valve?

Answer 7

longer lasting up to 30 yrs

consider antibiotic prophylaxis

requires warfarin to prevent emboli

ticking noise

Question 8

benefits of a tissue valve?

Answer 8

only 10 yrs

no anticoagulant

consider AP

silent

Question 9

What is Infective endocarditis?

Answer 9

Microbial infection of the heart valves - typically prosthetic or damaged valves. Usually strep Viridens or staph aureus

Turbulent blood flow can cause emboli on the valves which can break off and travel to other areas of body, spreading infection

Question 10

Considerations if a patient has IE?

Answer 10

Consider antibiotic prophylaxis in invasive treatments to prevent risk of IE

Must undergo assessment by medical practitioner before tx