Valvular heart disease Flashcards
The heart valves are extremely important in the cardiac cycle because they ______
prevent backflow of blood during
ventricular contraction
What is happening with the heart valves during diastole?
During diastole, the pulmonic and aortic valves
are closed, preventing blood from flowing back
from the pulmonary artery and the aorta.
○ The AV valves are open during diastole, allowing
blood to drop from atria to ventricles
What is happening with the heart valves during systole?
During systole, the AV valves snap closed as the
pressure in the ventricles increases, preventing
blood from flowing back to the atria.
○ The increasing pressure in the ventricles pushes
the pulmonic and aortic valves open.
The _____ hold (and kind of pull) the
mitral and tricuspid valves closed
Chordae Tendineae and the Papillary Muscles
The ______ during systole pushes the tent-like valves closed
increasing pressure within the ventricles
_____ are part of the ventricle
wall and also contract, providing added
strength to keep the flaps from bulging too
far into the atria
Papillary muscles
These normal heart sounds are the sounds
made by ____ of the valves
closing
Abnormal heart sounds, such as extra sounds
(gallups), friction rubs, and murmurs generally
occur when something is _____
structurally wrong
Corresponds with closure of the atrioventricular
valves at the beginning of systole
The “lub” is also called the first heart sound, or S1
Corresponds with the closure of the Aortic and
Pulmonic valves at the beginning of diastole.
The “dub” is the second heart sound, or S2
Valvular Heart Disease is characterized by _____
damage to or a defect in
one or more of the four heart valves
Structural damage or defects can interrupt normal valvular function, which can not only result in abnormal cardiac auscultation, but can also change _____
pressure gradients within the heart
Valvular Heart Disease can produce one or both of the following:
○ Stenosis- Narrowing of the valve opening
○ Regurgitation- Incompetence or backflow leakage
In the past, most cases of
valvular disease in the US were
due to _____- especially affecting the
Mitral Valve
Rheumatic Heart Disease
Causes of valvular Heart Disease
○ Congenital heart disease
○ Coronary Artery Disease / Myocardial Infarction
○ Degenerative Calcification (product of aging)
○ Aortic Dissection
○ Infective Endocarditis
○ Cardiomyopathy
○ Some autoimmune disorders (such as Lupus)
○ Radiation exposure
What does bacterial endocarditis do to the heart valves?
Endocarditis can affect any valve,
and generally involves whichever is
most susceptible in that patient
____% of adults over the age of 65 have some
thickening of the aortic valve- “aortic sclerosis”
25
When it comes to Valvular Heart Disease, one of the most important
clinical assessments is _____
auscultation of the heart for murmurs
Systolic murmurs:
Between S1 and S2
■ Aortic Stenosis, Mitral Regurgitation, (Pulmonic Stenosis), and
(Tricuspid Regurgitation).
● “SAS MR”
Diastolic murmurs:
After S2 and before S1
■ Aortic Regurgitation, Mitral Stenosis, (Pulmonic Regurgitation), and
(Tricuspid Stenosis).
● “DAR MS”
Workup for valvular heart disease includes:
○ Chest X-ray - May reveal evidence of abnormal cardiac chamber size or
increased pulmonary vasculature (normal in mild disease).
○ EKG - May reveal evidence of ventricular hypertrophy, atrial
enlargement, ischemic disease, etc. Abnormal EKG means get Echo.
○ Cardiac Catheterization - Not always needed, but may help confirm
abnormal pressure gradients caused by valvular disease.
○ Echocardiogram - The most important diagnostic assessment for
valvular heart disease of any kind. Dx study of choice if suspecting
The most important diagnostic assessment for
valvular heart disease of any kind
Echocardiogram
_____- These should be evaluated by an Echocardiogram if
they are not a venous hum or a mammary soufflé of pregnancy
Continuous Murmurs
ALL of these murmors should be evaluated by an Echocardiogram
Diastolic Murmurs
Which systolic murmors should be evaluated by a Echo?
Early systolic murmurs, midsystolic murmurs grade 3 or more, late systolic murmurs, and holosystolic murmurs all need to be evaluated by Echocardiogram. It if is a midsystolic murmur that is grade 2 or less, it needs to be evaluated by an Echocardiogram only if the patient is symptomatic or display other signs of possible cardiac disease
Valvular disease guidelines from the AHA/ACC suggest all lesions may be
best classified into one of six categories based on anatomy and symptoms:
○ Stage A - Individuals at risk for valvular heart disease.
○ Stage B - Asymptomatic individuals with progressive valvular heart
disease (mild to moderate severity on Echo).
○ Stage C - Asymptomatic individuals with severe valvular disease.
■ C1: Severe valve lesion (on Echo), asymptomatic, normal LV function
■ C2: Severe valve lesion (on Echo), asymptomatic, abnormal LV function
○ Stage D - Symptomatic individuals as a result of valvular heart disease
Aortic Stenosis
● Narrowed, thickened, stiffened, and
roughened valve secondary to several
possible causes.
○ Most common is calcific,
degenerative changes
Common risk factors for Aortic
Stenosis include ______
aging, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and smoking
Aortic Stenosis Pathophysiology
○ The narrowing/stiffening of the valve
makes it more difficult for the left
ventricle to eject blood during systole.
○ Ventricular systole becomes
prolonged as the heart struggles to
overcome the increased resistance.
○ Left ventricular hypertrophy can
develop due to the pressure overload,
eventually resulting in LV failure
Aortic Stenosis clinical presentation
○ Left ventricular failure, anginal chest pain, and/or syncope may be the presenting signs and symptoms in significant AS
○ In patients with calcific aortic stenosis, 50% have associated coronary artery disease as well.
○ Exertional dyspnea is also a common presentation
○ Harsh, medium-pitched, crescendo-decrescendo systolic murmur.
○ May have a sustained, significant, and heaving PMI.
○ There may be a systolic thrill over the aortic area or carotids.
○ Delayed carotid upstroke (large delay between S1 & carotid pulse).
○ A prominent S4 may be heard in late, severe disease
Long-Term Sequelae of Aortic Stenosis
○ Because of the stress placed on the
heart with AS, complications
include angina, exertional syncope,
heart failure, and sudden death.
○ Symptomatic AS has a poor
prognosis with a 25% annual
mortality risk
Aortic Stenosis Diagnosis
○ EKG often reveals LVH or secondary repolarization abnormalities.
○ CXR can show a normal or enlarged cardiac silhouette, calcifications of the aortic valve
○ Echocardiogram/Doppler is the most useful for AS