lecture 4 - valvular heart diseases Flashcards
AS leads to
concentric LVH
post-stenotic dilatation of aorta
relative fixed cardiac output
Valvular AS aetiology
Valvular AS (99% of AS):
congenital AS
bicuspid aortic valve
rheumatic AS
calcific (senile) AS – commonest
Aortic Stenosis (AS) Symptoms
Asymptomatic – symptoms generally only appear when AS is severe Angina Breathlessness Dizziness on exertion Syncope on exertion Sudden death
Aortic Stenosis (AS) Signs
Heaving apex beat (with LVH) Slow-rising low-volume pulse* Narrow pulse pressure Reduced splitting of S2 Quiet or absent S2* Ejection click Ejection systolic murmur Signs of heart failure (as complication)
Aortic Stenosis (AS) Investigations
CXR
calcified aortic valve
signs of HF if complicated
ECG
LVH voltage criteria
prolonged PR interval
Echocardiography
confirms diagnosis, aetiology
and severity
Aortic Stenosis (AS) Treatment
No treatment needed for mild or moderate AS
Treatment options for severe AS:
aortic valve replacement (AVR) surgery – gold
standard
transcatheter aortic valve implantation
(TAVI) – alternative for high-risk surgical
candidates
balloon valvuloplasty – usually as palliative
approach and little used
medical treatment for heart failure – avoid
vasodilators
Aortic Regurgitation (AR) Pathophysiology
AR leads to: backward flow into LV increased forward flow into aorta increased LV end-diastolic dimension and stroke volume
Chronic AR usually tolerated well until severe
- Acute AR usually less well tolerated
Aortic Regurgitation (AR) Aetiology
Dilatation of AV ring, e.g. systemic hypertension (commonest cause), aortic dissection, Marfan’s syndrome, syphilis, giant cell arteritis, seronegative spondarthropathies, osteogenesis imperfecta
Damage to AV cusps, e.g. Libman-Sacks endocarditis, infective endocarditis, rheumatic heart disease, bicuspid aortic valve, direct trauma, mucopolysaccharidoses, pseudoxanthoma elasticum
Aortic Regurgitation (AR) symptoms
Asymptomatic – symptoms generally
only appear when AR is severe
Breathlessness
Aortic Regurgitation (AR) signs
Signs of wide pulse pressure: collapsing pulse Corrigan’s sign De Musset’s sign Quincke’s sign Muller’s sign
Signs of backward flow: early diastolic murmur thrusting apex beat (and often displaced) Duroziez’s sign
Sign of increased forward flow:
aortic systolic flow murmur
Aortic Regurgitation (AR) Investigations
CXR
dilated aorta
signs of HF if complicated
ECG
LVH voltage criteria
Echocardiography
confirms diagnosis, aetiology
and severity
Aortic Regurgitation (AR) treatment
No treatment needed for mild or
moderate AR (other than ensuring BP is
normal or well controlled)
Treatment options for severe AR: aortic valve replacement (AVR) surgery – gold standard medical treatment for heart failure role of TAVI unclear
Mitral Stenosis (MS) Pathophysiology
Normal MV area is 4-6 cm2 Progressive MS leads to LA enlargement, then increased LA pressure and pulmonary congestion Eventually leads to pulmonary hypertension Increasing risk of atrial fibrillation with LA dilatation
Mitral Stenosis (MS) Aetiology
Rheumatic (almost always)
Congenital
Mitral Stenosis (MS) Symptoms
Asymptomatic
Symptoms of left heart failure
Symptoms of atrial fibrillation
Symptoms of LA enlargement Ortner’s syndrome = hoarse voice due to recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy from compression by enlarged LA Dysphagia (compression on oesophagus) Bronchiectasis (compression on bronchi)
