Heart Valvular Disease Flashcards
What are the consequences of valve stenosis?
Symptoms of heart failure may develop (shortness of breath, dizziness) fainting may be a sign of more severe stenosis.
What are the two principle changes in valve anatomy and physiology?
Stenosis and regurgitation
Why is valvular stenosis important to dentistry?
People with valvular stenosis may need to take antibiotics before undergoing any type of medical, surgical or dental procedure
What happens in aortic valve stenosis?
- Pressure overload leading to increased systolic stress which could lead to wall thickening and concentric hypertrophy.
- Volume overload which could lead to increased systolic stress which could lead to increased left ventricular volume leading to eccentric hypertrophy
What are the signs and symptoms of aortic valve stenosis?
Shortness of breath on exercise, palpitations or an irregular heart rhythm, arrhythmia, fainting or dizziness, chest pain or angina because of increased demand for oxygen by the thickened ventricle and because of insufficient blood flow to the coronary arteries.
What are the causes of aortic valve stenosis? the aortic valve is a flap like opening between the left side of the heart and the aorta
- congenital heart disease: born with a bicuspid or unicuspid aortic valve rather than a tricuspid one therefore doesn’t open widely enough leading to a turbulent and rough flow. The resulting wear and year on the valve can lead to aortic stenosis
- build up of calcium causing the valve cuspids to become thick and stiff reducing their mobility and overworking the heart as it tries to pump an adequate blood flow to the rest of the body
- rheumatic fever
What is aortic regurgitation/aortic valve prolapse?
When the blood flows backwards into the left side of the heart through the aortic valve
What are the symptoms of aortic regurgitation?
Fatigue, shortness of breath, oedema, heart arrhythmia’s, angina pectoris (chest pain due to reduced blood supply to the heart muscle), abdominal discomfort, excessive sweating, palpitations, pulse:irregular, racing, abnormal, fainting, weakness, angina, crushing squeezing pressure tightness, pain increases with exceed use relieved with rest
What causes aortic regurgitation?
Congenital defects, aortic dissection (tear), high blood pressure, infective endocarditis, Reiter syndrome (arthritic disorder that affects adult males), rheumatoid arthritis, syphilis, systemic lupus erythematosus (an autoimmune disorder in which the person creates antibodies against his or her own tissues), dilation of the aortic root due to tissue abnormality
What does aortic regurgitation cause?
Higher risk of developing endocarditis therefore before dental or surgical procedures antibiotics should be taken
What is the mitral valve?
It’s found between the left atrium and left ventricle. It’s got two leaflets.
What can mitral stenosis cause?
It can overburden the right side of the heart as blood backs up through the lungs and pulmonary vessels putting additional pressure on the right ventricle and atrium, could lead to right sided heart failure
What are the causes of mitral stenosis?
Women who’ve had rheumatic fever as it can cause fusion of the valve leaflets, thickening and shortening of the valve leaflets to the heart wall or calcification of the valve leaflets
What are the symptoms of mitral stenosis?
Usually appear into 40s or 50s, often aggravated by exercise or periods of excitement, sometimes appear earlier ie in pregnancy when the body’s increased blood demands lead to increased hearts workload
What is mitral valve prolapse?
When the two valve leaflets buckle back into the left atrium during left ventricular contraction. Can be worsened in situations where the left ventricular cavity is smaller (eg when patient dehydrated or standing). It’s a common cause of regurgitation and the most common heart valve abnormality in the us.
