Valvular Heart Disease

Question 1

What do the valves in the heart do?

Answer 1

The valves of the heart control the unidirectional blood flow and prevent back flow.

Question 2

How many valves are there?

Answer 2

There are two pairs of valves in the heart, a pair of atrioventricular (AV) valves and a pair of semilunar valves.

Question 3

What is Valvular heart disease?

Answer 3

A term used to describe the malfunctioning of a heart valve

Question 4

What are the three main types of valvular dysfunction?

Answer 4

Valvular prolapse
Valvular regurgitation
Valvular stenosis

Question 5

What are the most commonly affected valves in valvular heart disease?

Answer 5

Aortic and pulmonary valves.

Question 6

What does stenosis mean in terms of valve malfunction?

Answer 6

Restricts the forward flow of blood.

Question 7

What does valvular incompetence mean in terms of valve malfunction?

Answer 7

Where the valve does not completely close.

Question 8

Can a single valve be both stenosed and insufficient?

Answer 8

Yes

Question 9

What can happen to the heart due to valvular heart disease?

Answer 9

Due to the extra force needed to pump effectively with a valvular defect, the heart may eventually develop hypertrophy and fail.

Question 10

What is Rheumatic fever?

Answer 10

An autoimmune disease that mostly occurs following group A streptococcal throat infection.

It can affect multiple systems leading to permanent damage to heart valves, this is referred to as rheumatic heart disease.

This mostly manifests as mitral stenosis.

Question 11

What is valvular prolapse?

Answer 11

If a valve flap inverts it is said to
have prolapsed.

Can occur if one valve flap is
larger than the other or if the
chordae tendineae stretch.

This may be idiopathic or due to
an underlying condition or
damage to the heart muscle itself

Question 12

What is valvular regurgitation?

Answer 12

When blood flows backwards it is known as regurgitation.

This can happen if one or more of the hearts valves does not close properly.

This is also sometimes called valvular incompetence or valvular insufficiency.

Question 13

What is valvular stenosis?

Answer 13

If a valve narrows, stiffens or thickens then it is said to stenosed.

The heart must work harder to pump the blood through the valve.

Question 14

What are the causes of valvular stenosis?

Answer 14

Congential problem, or a result of underlying pathology such as infection or calcification.

Question 15

What is infective endocarditis?

Answer 15

This is an infection ion the innermost layer of the heat, it is pre-existing damage resulting from:

Turbulent blood flow
Mechanical
Particles
Chronic inflammation

Question 16

What does valvular lesion mean?

Answer 16

When any heart valve is damaged or diseased.

Many patients will not show symptoms.

If a patient becomes symptomatic or cardiac dysfunction is caused then a valve replacement is done.

Ongoing anticoagulants may have to be taken.